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The Jazz Image: Masters of Jazz Photography

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“Although there are superb, iconic performance shots here (Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Cootie Williams, Sonny Rollins and many others), it is the sense of privileged intimacy we get from pictures of musicians in moments of repose, contemplation, rehearsal and relaxation that are most revelatory, and often most memorable.” — Jazz Times

The great improvisational American jazz musicians of the mid-20th century inspired a generation of photographers to develop a looser, moodier style of visual expression. That evocative approach is on striking display in The Jazz Image .

Covering six decades of performers—from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington to John Coltrane and Miles Davis—this unique collection is as much a comprehensive catalogue of jazz greats as it is a salute to the photographers who captured them. The images here provide a simultaneous look at jazz, photography, and America from 1935 into the 1990s with images of jazz legends such Lee Tanner, a leading authority on jazz photography, has selected works—by such noted jazz photographers as Herman Leonard, Bob Willoughby, Milt Hinton, and Bill Claxton—that are iconic, candid, explosive, and intimate.

In 2004, Tanner received the Lona Foote-Bob Parent Award for Excellence in Photography from the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2010, he was presented with the prestigious Lucie Award for Achievement in Documentary. The Lucie Awards are given annually to honor the work of master photographers. His curation makes this one-of-a-kind coffee table book of jazz photography a must-have addition to any jazz aficionado’s library and the perfect gift for any fan.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2006

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About the author

Lee Tanner

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Steven Godin.
2,784 reviews3,424 followers
August 19, 2021
Awesome book. As a lover of both photography and jazz, you put them both together and simply can't go wrong. Going through this with some classic jazz in the background whilst knocking back a few coctails after a pretty shitty day was bliss. Max Roach, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and the rest are just the epitome of cool!
Profile Image for Natalie.
337 reviews22 followers
January 22, 2018
fantastic, wonderful photographs of nearly everybody.
Profile Image for Douglas.
158 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2019
My favorite picture was one with Webster, Young, and Hawkins.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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