The Sound I Saw

by Roy DeCarava

Let legendary photographer Roy DeCarava lead you through the dark, moody, and exciting world of New York jazz in the 1960s. Photographed 30 years ago and not published until now, The Sound I Saw is a saunter through a poignant period of New York musical history and life experience. Vacant lots and sweaty musicians dot a cultural landscape that looks as if it's going to burst at the seams. The beautiful black-and-white images simultaneously capture hard and luscious life in the city. Lonely figures abound, on park benches, street corners, stages, and subways. The music appears and strives to make intense connections with the surrounding world. A delirious trumpet player works so hard you can almost feel him move the camera. This beautiful coffee-table size book has one striking picture after another, each capturing heartfelt experiences of life in the great city. From jam sessions to candy stores, the streets of New York appear choreographed to reveal the depths of the human spirit. --J.P. Cohen

Genres: Photography, Poetry, Music, History, Nonfiction, Art

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2001

About the author

Over the course of six decades, American artist Roy DeCarava (1919–2009) produced a singular collection of black-and-white photographs of modern life that combine formal acuity with an intimate and deeply human treatment of his subject matter. Grounded by a unified theory of the visual plane, his work displays a subtle mastery of tonal and spatial elements and devotion to the medium of photography as a means of artistic expression.

Reviews

[simi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monumental photography and great layout work <3

[Paul Secor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The edition I have is an abreviated one, published by The Studio Museum of Harlem. The Sound I Saw contains many wonderful images, including one of my favorite DeCarava's - "Man in Striped Shirt at Piano, New York, 1954. I probably should also mention "Dancers, New York, 1956" and "Jimmy Scott, Hands, New York, 1956". I could go on and on, but I'll stop here.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

an absolutely incredible book

[Zander Engelke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy Decarava is, in my opinion, the most significant music photographer since the advent of the medium. In both this book and Light Break, Decarava brings together revolutionary music photography and wonderfully expressive images of New York City, particularly Harlem. He creates such a beautiful representation of black culture in the '50s and '60s. Decarava is likely my biggest inspiration in one of the ways I have thought about photography. The ways in which music and photography relate is of very deep interest to me these days. Photographs share these emotive moments between people and space in a nearly identical manner to music. I could speak of this idea at length but I think that escapes the scope of this review. Decarava though, captures it better than any other photographer I have yet to see, every photograph feels like a moment he is sharing with his subject, whether that be the still pillars of NYC, or the smoky jazz clubs that permeate this city. Another fantastic book I always rave about and continue learning from years after my first time reading it.

[Jerry Cagle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, but not a reflection on DeCarava's work. The book is poorly done with no list of plates and no titles for the images. The poetry sprinkled throughout is interesting. I assume it's DeCarava's.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conceived in 1962 and published in 2001, this selection of Roy DeCarava's photographs is accompanied by a free-verse poem, like jazz, a loosely formed improvisation of words/moods/thoughts.

[Brian Mcinnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite confident in saying this is the greatest photography book that I’ve ever seen. Monumental. Lie, cheat, steal, murder, whatever you gotta do, just get your hands on this book.