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Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph
Jazz Day The Making of a Famous Photograph Author:Roxane Orgill What happens when you invite as many jazz musicians as you can to pose for a photo in 1950s Harlem? Playful verse and glorious artwork capture an iconic moment for American jazz. — When Esquire magazine planned an issue to salute the American jazz scene in 1958, graphic designer Art Kane pitched a crazy idea: how about gathering a group of belove... more »d jazz musicians and photographing them? He didn?t own a good camera, didn?t know if any musicians would show up, and insisted on setting up the shoot in front of a Harlem brownstone. Could he pull it off? In a captivating collection of poems, Roxane Orgill steps into the frame of Harlem 1958, bringing to life the musicians? mischief and quirks, their memorable style, and the vivacious atmosphere of a Harlem block full of kids on a hot summer?s day. Francis Vallejo?s vibrant, detailed, and wonderfully expressive paintings do loving justice to the larger-than-life quality of jazz musicians of the era. Includes bios of several of the fifty-seven musicians, an author?s note, sources, a bibliography, and a foldout of Art Kane?s famous photograph.« less