From the Darkness into the Light of Jazz

Soon after you enter the David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea, you find yourself in total darkness. You hear the sounds from the film of the jazz session that you are there to see, but you have no sense of where to walk. It is like being underwater in a pitch black sea. Then, your eyes adjust. You start to make out forms that look like walls and you spot a corner you need go around. Once in the viewing room, it is still dark but a large movie screen helps you see and not step on the bodies on the floor. You join them and you are part of a wonderful treat. This exhibition consists of a film by Stan Douglas. It is his creation of a 70s era jazz jam session, set in his recast of the once famous recording space in midtown Manhattan known as the "Church," with ten wonderful musicians in period dress. All of the instrumentalists are terrific, but the four drummers are the snarliest and happiest. The film lasts for 6 hours. You probably won't stay for all of that, but you will stay longer than you might have originally planned. Jazz musicians say they go to some special other place when they play. This film helps take you with them.

The David Zwirner Gallery is at 533 West 19th Street. The film is there for viewing (it is fine to pick it up at any point)
through February 22.