Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959) review

This is a fine celebration of American Pride in the Summertime by noted photographer Stern and editor Avakian.  Commentary years later reveals that it wasn't meant to be 'strictly' a documentary of the Newport Jazz Festival - they wanted to put it in story form - but typical production problems (and we know about those) cut plans short, so they were left with the footage of the performers (all excellent) and some snippets of the America's Cup race.  It shows diversity in every form - race, social status and age - and Stern's eye catches a few choice moments, like the man opening the beer in a restaurant and a girl in blue who he must have realized has some of the best reaction shots of anyone in the audience to splice into the picture. Perhaps this could have used a few more non-festival shots or more images from the America's Cup race to add more substance towards the end - the decision to conjoin the colorful rippling of water with Jack Teagarden & Co.'s bubbly melodies is good - but the final product is still impressive in itself.