Miles Davis, supremely cool behind his shades. Billie Holiday, eyes
closed and head tilted back in full cry. John Coltrane, one hand
behind his neck and a finger held pensively to his lips. These
iconic images have captivated jazz fans nearly as much as the music
has. Jazz photographs are visual landmarks in American history,
acting as both a reflection and a vital part of African American
culture in a time of immense upheaval, conflict, and celebration.
Charting the development of jazz photography from the swing era of
the 1930s to the rise of black nationalism in the '60s, "Blue Notes
in Black and White" is the first of its kind: a fascinating account
of the partnership between two of the twentieth century's most
innovative art forms. Benjamin Cawthra introduces us to the great
jazz photographers--including Gjon Mili, William Gottlieb, Herman
Leonard, Francis Wolff, Roy DeCarava, and William Claxton--and
their struggles, hustles, styles, and creative visions. We also
meet their legendary subjects, such as Duke Ellington, sweating
through a late-night jam session for the troops during World War
II, and Dizzy Gillespie, stylish in beret, glasses, and goatee.
Cawthra shows us the connections between the photographers, art
directors, editors, and record producers who crafted a look for
jazz that would sell magazines and albums. And on the other side of
the lens, he explores how the musicians shaped their public images
to further their own financial and political goals. This mixture of
art, commerce, and racial politics resulted in a rich visual legacy
that is vividly on display in "Blue Notes in Black and White."
Beyond illuminating the aesthetic power of these images, Cawthra
ultimately shows how jazz and its imagery served a crucial function
in the struggle for civil rights, making African Americans proudly,
powerfully visible.
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