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His idea to photograph as many of the luminaries of the New York jazz scene as possible together for Esquire’s 1959 Golden Age of Jazz edition began Art Kane's career as a photographer.
Police closed the road to all but residential traffic, and 57 musicians duly assembled in Harlem between Fifth and Madison Avenues.
Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Gigi Gryce.
"Two colors forbidden to be in close proximity, yet captured so beautifully within a single black and white frame. The importance of this photo transcends time and location" – Quincy Jones
"Two colors forbidden to be in close proximity, yet captured so beautifully within a single black and white frame. The importance of this photo transcends time and location" – Quincy Jones
Eddie Locke, Jay C Higginbotham, Charles Mingus, Ernie Wilkins, Bill Crump.
"Eddie Locke told me he rounded the corner of 126th Street … and nearly fainted. The giants of jazz! His heroes. Right there!" – Jonathan Kane (Art’s son)
"Eddie Locke told me he rounded the corner of 126th Street … and nearly fainted. The giants of jazz! His heroes. Right there!" – Jonathan Kane (Art’s son)
Luckey Roberts, Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith
Stuff Smith, Marian McPartland, Miff Mole, Gene Krupa, Jimmy Rushing, Roy Eldridge, Max Kaminsky, Hilton Jefferson, Dizzy Gillespie.
"It would be sort of a graduation photo or class picture of all the jazz musicians." - Art Kane
"It would be sort of a graduation photo or class picture of all the jazz musicians." - Art Kane
"The fact that all 57 musicians agreed to show up for a 10am photoshoot is a true testament to how dedicated they were. Jazz was never just a genre, it was a way of life. And it still is" – Quincy Jones
"So here you have a non-professional photographer, who’s got an assistant who’s never loaded a camera before, taking this picture which 30 years later is probably the best-known group photograph ever taken of jazz musicians" – Art Kane
