Louis Armstrong performing in ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’.
The music of jazz legends including Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington and Thelonious Monk will be celebrated at the opening event at next week’s Docs Ireland festival.
A special outdoor screening of the newly restored classic jazz documentary, ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’ will be shown in the intimate surroundings of the Secret Garden at Hidden Huntley in South Belfast, on Wednesday 25 August.
Co-directors Bert Stern and Aram Avakian’s legendary film is set at the now famous 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, and features some of the greatest jazz performers of all time such as Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O’Day, and Louis Armstrong.
Setting the scene for the screening will be the Martello Jazz Band, who will treat the Docs Ireland audience to a special live performance before the film is shown.
Docs Ireland Festival Director, Michele Devlin said:
“’Jazz on a Summer’s Day’ is quite simply the best feature length jazz film ever made, so we’re setting the bar high with our first screening at Docs Ireland this year.
“As well as showcasing new talents at the festival, we also feel it’s important to celebrate our cinematic heritage and to bring rarely screened masterpieces to Northern Ireland audiences.
“With a beautifully restored film; the gorgeous surroundings of the Hidden Huntley gardens and a live music performance by the wonderful Martello Jazz Band, audiences will be in for an unforgettable night of music and cinema.”
Tickets for ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’ at Hidden Huntley are £8 full price, £7 concession and can be booked online now at www.docsireland.ie
Docs Ireland is supported this year by NI Screen, Belfast City Council, Department For Communities, BFI FAN, TG4, Arts & Business, Yellowmoon, Film Hub NI, BBC Northern Ireland.