We previously posted about the “Great Day in Harlem Tour” in 1998-1999 involving the Art Farmer Quintet. At these events, the film about the iconic Art Kane photograph was shown followed by a live performance by the quintet, the personnel of which was Art Farmer (flumpet), Ron Blake (sax), Ted Rosenthal (piano), Kenny Davis (bass) and Yoron Israel (drums), .
This subject was revisited on January 29, 2023, at the Metuchen Public Library, when a screening of the film, A Great Day in Harlem, was followed by an interview with bassist and educator Kenny Davis (the “Surprise Jazz Musician”), a member of Farmer’s quintet for nearly a decade. The event was sponsored by Friends of Metuchen Arts and the Metuchen Public Library. Lynne Mueller served as both producer and moderator.
After the film was shown, Mueller spoke briefly about the film, its producer, Jean Bach, the band members and the many stops on the tour. She introduced Davis who discussed his past and present career, the Great Day in Harlem Tour, offered anecdotes and answered questions from the audience. Davis’s quartet will appear at the Metuchen Library on March 12, 2023.
The January 29 event can be viewed here.
