Recording History
Category: Music... Photography...
Posted Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 08:41 AM [GMT-6]

What do Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Mingus, Gene Krupa, Theolonius Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Gerry Mulligan, and Lucky Williams have in common? Yeah, they're all famous (or should be famous) jazz musicians from a bygone era. And as far as I know, they never all played together on the same recording.

However, that doesn't mean they weren't recorded together, and this is the real answer I was seeking: they -- and a number of others of their profession -- all appeared in a photograph taken in 1958 by Art Kane. That photo, entitled Harlem 1958 is #6 in The Online Photographer's "T.O.P. Ten" list* of all-time greatest photographs.

It really is a beautiful and fascinating photo, not only for its content and historical significance but also for its composition. It's even more remarkable considering that the shot emerged from the photographer's very first paid shoot!

If you have time, visit TOP and read more about the photo (oh...and actually see it, as well!), and then read the accompanying comment thread for a wide-ranging discussion about what makes a photograph significant.

*Others on the list (thus far): #10 | #9 | #8 | #7. No need to thank me for saving you the trouble of finding these...it's why I make the big bucks; future TOP 10 posts are forthcoming each Tuesday. You might also look for the "Shadow Top 10," which are the blogger's all-time favorite photos. Just as interesting; just as striking.

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Comments

Oh my! That photo and its commentary gave me goosebumps. It is fascinating and beautiful! And enriching. Love it!! :-)

Posted by: Gwynne at March 30, 2006 11:34 AM

Eric, isn't this the photo that brought Tom Hanks' character to America in the movie, "The Terminal?"

Posted by: Jeff at March 31, 2006 09:39 AM

Jeff, you may very well be right, and that does sound vaguely familiar, but I have to admit that I remember almost nothing about that movie (other than thinking that having something like Catherine Zeta-Jones fall for Tom Hanks's character was a plot gap that couldn't be filled by a million large tubs of popcorn).

As I recall, Hanks played an eastern European immigrant who was a big fan of American jazz. I just can't bring this photo into that specific memory.

Posted by: Eric at March 31, 2006 11:23 AM
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