05/29/2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us at MoCA\CT for ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’—an evening where film, music, and visual art came together in remarkable ways.
Bert Stern’s 1959 documentary, drawn from the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, is more than a concert film. It’s a visual poem—capturing not only legendary performances by Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, and Mahalia Jackson, but also the surrounding world of coastal crowds and quiet, fleeting moments.
We’re grateful to Yale Professor Brian Kane for guiding us through the historical and cultural layers of this iconic film. “It’s as much about the audience as it is about the performers,” he said. A perspective that brings new meaning to Stern’s lens. Shot across what was said to be “100,000 feet of film,” the documentary preserves a cultural turning point—when jazz was shifting from popular entertainment toward a more self-conscious art form. “It's a good data point for understanding the ways in which the whole sense of what jazz is is changing in that moment,” he said.
We hope you can join us next week for a FREE screening of ‘Bessie’ on Thursday, June 4 at 6pm. Presented in conjunction with ‘Art, Jazz + the Blues,’ the HBO film offers a powerful portrait of the music, artistry, and era that inspired the works on view here through June 7. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the film in the galleries alongside Eric von Schmidt’s ‘Blues Women,’ which features Smith’s likeness.
This special screening is presented in conjunction with Avon Theatre’s Avon on Tour. Opening remarks will be presented by Peter H. Gistelinck, Executive Director of Avon Theatre, and refreshments will be available for purchase. Seats are limited, so reserve your spot at https://avontheatre.org/movies/avon-on-tour-bessie/
