I am a former AFA employee in the Film Program and it was a great honor to get to know Harry Smith personally AND professionally. Greetings from France.
just discovered all about Harry Smith from the excellent liner notes to Anthology of American Folk Music volume IV.Feel like I've discovered an old friend.
And here is the animated film Harry Smith made using the original version of Monk's Misterioso (1948) When two geniuses are involved in one project chances are the result is going to be something very special. The sound track to this film is one of the most magnificent pieces of American music--in any genre. But it's jazz and its composer is Thelonious Monk. Originally issued on Blue Note Records, the personnel is Monk piano Milt Jackson vibes John Simmons bass and Shadow Wilson drums. Jackson is one of the greatest interpreters of Monk's music, as you can hear. Yes, it's the same Harry Smith who was the author of the highly influential Anthology of American Folk Music, originally a six album set issued by Folkways Records. Many very famous musicians took up music after hearing these albums. They were a collection of 78 rpm records from Smith's personal collection transferred to 33 rpm vinyl. Smith was a musicologist, filmmaker, painter, author and all around amazing man. . No. 11 Mirror Animation, from 1956-57 on 16mm color film, is all hand made by Smith himself, as were all his animations .When you imagine the amount of work involved here, it's really mind blowing. Smith had the highest regard for Monk's music and the feeling was mutual. Monk called Harry "the magician"
Yeah, I did what research I could about 20 years ago and it seemed there was an established “Harry Smith Studio” in NYC or environs in the late ’40s. I am pretty sure (from talking to Jordan Belson) that Harry was living above the Jackson’s Nook club in the Fillmore in S.F. at that time. As far as I know, he did not get to NYC before 1952 (I think he traveled from the West Coast with Philip Lamantia). But it is possible he visited once or twice before that.
I believe the session engineer was a different person named Harry Smith, but I would be glad to learn otherwise! (Harry was in San Francisco in ’47, I believe this was recorded in the NYC area.)
So this was before psychedelics really hit western culture, huh? That kinda blows my mind, the kaleidoscopic effects are just like visuals I'll get on weaker doses of Ayahuasca. Great stuff, thanks for posting. OH WOW, the same Harry Smith that compiled the famous folk music collection.
I believe you are probably right. I just went through a long discussion on this subject with another person who shared your viewpoint. Since I don't think I can send the link, if you RU-vid Thelonious Monk Misterioso you can see our correspondence. It's the black and white picture with Monk sitting at a piano. Thanks for your input.
Sorry I just caught up with this Willie. Well what can I say other than Far Out! Usually I don't dig animations ever since Fritz the Cay! ;-) BTW did you ever read "BUT BEAUTIFUL" by Geoff Dyer? There is some interesting fact, fiction or simply mere conjecture about Monk, Nica etc etc. It's a paperback & a fast interesting humorous read. Thanks ,CIAO Man.
