Automobiles parked on a rainy night on 52nd Street, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. July 1948 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Billie Holiday at the Club Downbeat on 52nd Street, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. February 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Billie Holiday at the Downbeat, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. February 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Billie Holiday and Mister at the Club Downbeat, 52nd Street, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. June (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Louis Armstrong at the Aquarium, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. July 1946 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Louis Armstrong at the Aquarium, New York City : photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. July 1946 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Louis Armstrong at the Aquarium, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. July 1946 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald, New York City. Caption from Down Beat: A cliché worth repeating is that Ella is the greatest natural singer in the world. It's a thought that hits you anew every time you hear the gal rock. Believe me, that diamond studded queen's crown she wears on her bosom is no uncalled-for affectation: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. November 1946 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Ella Fitzgerald at the Downbeat, with Dizzy Gillespie at right, Ray Brown at left. Caption from Down Beat: A truly impressive singer, Ella Fitzgerald, with Dizzy Gillespie making like a faun in the background. Dizzy has gone on his own way, while Ella is still keeping the club on the beat: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. September 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Dizzy Gillespie at the Club Downbeat, 52nd Street, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, between 1946 and 1948 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Dizzy Gillespie, 52nd Street, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, between 1946 and 1948 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Portrait of Dizzy Gillespie, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. May 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)(William P. Gottlieb Collection, Library of Congress)
Howard McGhee and Miles Davis at the Three Deuces, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. September 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Charlie Parker and Miles Davis at the Three Deuces, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. August 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
Charlie Parker and Tommy Potter at the Three Deuces, New York City : photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. October 1947 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Library of Congress)
Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington at the Aquarium, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. November 1946 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress))
Portrait of Duke Ellington, Paramount Theater, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. September 1946 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
The Three Deuces, New York City: photo by William P. Gottlieb, c. July 1948 (William P. Gottlieb Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
9 comments:
William P. Gottlieb (1917-2006), photographer of the Golden Age of Jazz: NYT obit
It's wonderful to look at these. All that remains (apart from the ghosts, these photos and some recordings) is an anemic sign on the corner of W. 52nd and 6th (on the corner where the CBS Building stands, but CBS no longer really resides) reading "Swing Street." Antisepticized as it is, the downtown sign near CBGB reading "Joey Ramone Place" (NYC's most stolen street sign) still summons more of a connection between words and place. Sad. This is a beautiful grouping, which reminds me of Caroline's stories about her father's collection of black & white big band photos, which apparently meant the world to him. I'd be seeing Swing Street today, but my lunch companion insists we meet "downtown-ish." Curtis
Tom,
A signed print of the Bird & Miles shot (a birthday gift from my dear wife) greets all who enter the side entrance to our home.
My original copy of FAN POEMS rests atop a short stack of cherished books on the chest of drawers just below our heroes.
For real, as they say.
Curtis,
Bill Gottlieb, hero to all who treasured Down Beat back in the day, and greatest of all the jazz photographers. A rare empathy. How else, otherwise, come so close, with such respect, nay call it reverence?
Downtown, by the way, is a black-and-blue word around here of late.
All I ever manage to "meet downtown-ish" any more, it seems, is the pavement. Which keeps arriving early. Ow. However, it rained all night here, and possibly in consequence I was assailed by a rare attack of good sense. And did not stray from my cell.
Kent,
Many thanks, likewise furreal.
Oh, Fan Poems. The mention summons a little known fact, extracted from the back of the mental sock-drawer.
The guy who published the book was a real genius... at scrimping on costs. He actually managed to have my cover artwork photographed through (i.e. while still inside) the cellophane wrapping that had been intended merely to protect the image. When the cover therefore (not surprisingly) came out somewhat indistinct, he got the printer to refund the costs. To him. And elected NOT to use the refund to have the cover done-over properly.
Tom,
What great photos -- humbling. One wants to hear them all again, and again -- a rainy night here last night too!
2.7
light coming into clouds above shadowed
ridge, rain drop falling on brick plane
in foreground, wave sounding in channel
man walking on road did not,
inserted in landscape
something may mean “the act,”
happens, verbal sense
grey line of light in cloud on horizon,
shadowed green pine on tip of sandspit
For what it's worth (quite a bit, I'd say), jazz was George Seferis' favorite kind of music.
Loved them, Tom!
Now I'll put some of their records, it's a perfect music for a rainy day like ours here. (Thanks for the idea)
Julia,
Well, for starters, that third photo begins to sing, here...
Thank you, Tom. A perfect choice!
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