Ever since its discovery, I’ve been enchanted by The Jazz Loft Project — a rare and fascinating look at the secret life of a New York loft, where some of the most iconic jazz musicians of the 1950s came to play at night. Now comes a greater treasure still: Jazz (public library) — a humbly titled yet absolutely amazing retrospective of the work of legendary photographer Herman Leonard, who passed away a few weeks before the book was published. Leonard had been photographing jazz musicians since the 1950s and developed close friendships with greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, which gave him unique access to these innovators and their larger worlds beyond the stage. The book reveals a rare glimpse of the underbelly of a cultural revolution through stunning, luminous never-before-seen images of icons like Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard via NPR
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard via NPR
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard via NPR
From backstage parties to afterhours sessions to private get-togethers in musicians’ apartments, Jazz is both a bittersweet remembrance of one of the greatest entertainment photographers in history and a remarkable record of an era whose legacy shaped everything from music to pop culture for decades to come.
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard via NPR
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard via NPR
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Image courtesy of Herman Leonard
Alongside the images is a fascinating essay contextualizing the stories behind the photographs, as well as an interview with Leonard pulling the curtain on his signature techniques and unique creative vision.
With its vibrant, exhilarating record of live performances and its intimate portraits of musicians’ off-stage personas, Jazz is a priceless timecapsule of the glory days of “the sound of surprise,” a cultural icon in its own right.
via NPR
