Synopses & Reviews
Claxton's photos are classics. Anyone who's a fan of jazz will have come across his work. Whether it's a studio portrait or a live shot, the photos themselves are music. Every shot reveals that photographer's enormous sensitivity towards the rhythms and sounds all around him. Claxton has captured the very soul of the greats the furious concentration of Miles Davis and the warm vitality of Louis Armstrong.
William Claxton has been photographing since the 50s. He was driven not just to snap the artists but to get close to the atmosphere itself. The stunning intensity of his work captures the feeling of an entire era from the streets of New Orleans to the legendary jazz clubs of New York City. His shots have become icons of their time and not just for jazz fans.
In this, the most comprehensive publication of his work to date, Claxton himself tells the story of how his legendary pictures arose.
Review
"This new collection of work by legendary jazz photographer Claxton includes 250 black-and-white photographs documenting the history of jazz over the last 50 years....Claxton's photographs clock the evolution of jazz and distill its essence and spirit, making this an important tribute and historical document, while the images stand on their own." Library Journal
Review
"Above all, Claxton captures the intensity, the humor, and the joy of the jazz musician." Booklist