Jazz 101 - Arts & Literature in Jazz

As jazz music evolved during the World War II years, writers and photographers began to embrace jazz as another method of artistic expression. On paper and film, the music appeared oblique and absolute. For people who were interested in jazz but not quite sure how to approach the music, pictures and writings were an encouraging introduction.

Gordon Parks and William Claxton were photographers who appreciated Jazz music so much, they found a way to express it through the lens. Gordon Parks has often acknowledged the influence of jazz on his life. As a Photojournalist for Time Magazine, he's captured iconic photos of Duke Ellington; and his edgy black-and-white photos of Clifford Brown and Ornette Coleman, among others have matched the grittiness of hard bop and free jazz.

William Claxton listened to big band, and in the 1950's, started shooting jazz musicians for album covers. Musicians felt relaxed when working with Claxton, allowing him to capture their inner emotions that now represents youthfulness, and the rebellious spirit of the music. Exhibitions of Claxton's work have been held in London, Paris, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.

Writers like Bill Moody and Geoff Dyer have offered perspective through words. Bill Moody presents a look into the life of Evan Horne, a fictional Jazz clarinetist in novels like "Solo Hand" and "Looking for Chet Baker".

Geoff Dyer is an award-winning writer whose authored a collection of stories called "But Beautiful: A Book About Jazz". The music of Art Pepper, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, and Thelonious Monk was Goeff's inspiration behind these stories.

Many more photographers and writers have collaborated to produce magnificent picturebooks chronicling the history of jazz. Poets like Langston Hughes have also contributed their art to jazz music. The efforts of these artists interprepations of jazz has also resulted in scores of pricesless documentaries that can be found in public libraries across the country. Cheers!

- jh