In the summer of 1958 a young New York photographer was astonished and delighted to discover that his tentative invitation for a few jazz musicians to turn up and be photographed had been answered by around 60 famous jazz musicians who assembled at the unearthly hour (around 10am) in Harlem for the photo-shoot. Later this incredible event was immortalised in an hour-long documentary film. Both have now passed into the immortal archives of jazz history.
British jazz enthusiast Ray Bolden decided to attempt a recreation involving British jazz musicians and settled on the morning of June 24, in the grounds of St Annes Church, Wardour Street, London, for ‘The Great Day in Soho’. The call was 11.15 for 11.30 a.m. but by 11 a.m. the old churchyard was becoming crowded with musicians, many of whom were greeting each other enthusiastically. With people continually coming and going plus – as in Harlem – the inevitable local kids turning up to see what was going on, it proved difficult to organise, especially with most photographs being taken from the first-floor window of the church tower. However, with the aid of a loudhailer of the ‘Come out Dillinger, we know you’re in there’ variety some groups were assembled representing reed players, brass players, drummers etc, etc and photographs taken.
Our One Sweet Letter page in the September issue carried a letter from the organiser expressing his gratitude for the turnout. Opinions varied on the total attendance, but the final count was probably nearer two hundred than three… A final wide-angled shot taken by Peter Symes and reproduced here which, although not including everybody, does give some idea of the attendance. The end of historic Archer Street can be seen in the top right-hand comer.
Editor’s note: The letter referred to above came from Ray Bolden and was titled “Swinging Day In Soho”. Peter Symes’ photo in the JJ files carries the same name, but as Eddie indicates above, the official title was “Great Day In Soho”.
