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The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith

Play trailer Poster for The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith 2015 1h 27m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Photographer W. Eugene Smith's archive of photos documents the careers of jazz legends.
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The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith

Critics Reviews

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John DeFore The Hollywood Reporter An exceptionally vivid picture of bohemian life during one of New York City's most exciting eras. Sep 23, 2016 Full Review Glenn Kenny New York Times The bohemian paradise of this environment had a dark side, and the movie doesn't give it short shrift. Nevertheless, a genuine exhilaration holds throughout. Sep 22, 2016 Full Review Alan Scherstuhl Village Voice Fishko is always on to the next striking image that will too quickly pass. Fortunately, that next thing is often a joyous surprise ... Sep 20, 2016 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site About a finished work, Smith once commented, he felt he ought to be able to say, "this is my honest interpretation of the world; this is not influenced by money, or trickery, or pressure-except the pressure of my soul." Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This was a perfect document of a magical time and place. I guess that's the ultimate goal of every documentary, but this one truly succeeded. Every frame was like a beautiful photograph. That's what happens when the film is mostly about photojournalist W.Eugene Smith and his time living in and documenting a loft building in NYC (821 6th avenue) between 1957-1965. Next door, dozens of jazz musicians would play together night after night until the sun rose. The whole thing was captured with still photos, film and audio by Smith including a three week period with Monk while he prepped for his 1959 concert at Town Hall with Hall Overton. He recorded 4000 hours of audio tape and took 40,000 photographs in the Jazz Loft. It wasn't all magic as it covered the bad stuff too - heroin use, family strife, the state of the world at the time. This film was stunning. If you appreciate NYC in the 50s, this is a lovely snapshot. 9/10 🎷📷Wow. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved it. It gives an inside view of the creation of one of Monk's finest albums, as well as profiles of other great artists and musicians who practiced their craft in this building. Wonderful stuff. The film doesn't sugar coat anything either. Had I been in NYC during this time, I would have gone to this place as often as I could. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie about New York in the 60's and the music and art scene. Loved how it told the story with photos and only live action was interviews. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Well put together documentary that transforms you right into the feel of NY in the 50s-60s Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith

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The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith

The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith (2015) The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith (2015) The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith (2015) The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith (2015) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Photographer W. Eugene Smith's archive of photos documents the careers of jazz legends.
Director
Sara Fishko
Producer
Sara Fishko, Calvin Skaggs, Sam Stephenson
Screenwriter
Sara Fishko
Production Co
Lumiere Productions
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 7, 2016
Runtime
1h 27m
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