Jazz Day

By Roxane Orgill, Francis Vallejo (Illustrator)

A daring photo shoot captures jazz legends in 1950s Harlem.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 760 ratings

66 pages

$8.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1958, Art Kane dreams of gathering jazz legends for a photo in Harlem. With no camera and uncertain attendance, can he immortalize this iconic moment? Discover the vibrant personalities and lively atmosphere through playful verse and vivid illustrations, capturing the essence of a summer day on a Harlem block. Will the musicians' quirks and style shine through in this ambitious project?

From the publisher

What happens when you invite as many jazz musicians as you can to pose for a photo in 1950s Harlem? Playful verse and glorious artwork capture an iconic moment for American jazz. When Esquire magazine planned an issue to salute the American jazz scene in 1958, graphic designer Art Kane pitched a crazy idea: how about gathering a group of beloved jazz musicians and photographing them? He didn’t own a good camera, didn’t know if any musicians would show up, and insisted on setting up the shoot in front of a Harlem brownstone. Could he pull it off? In a captivating collection of poems, Roxane Orgill steps into the frame of Harlem 1958, bringing to life the musicians’ mischief and quirks, their memorable style, and the vivacious atmosphere of a Harlem block full of kids on a hot summer’s day. Francis Vallejo’s vibrant, detailed, and wonderfully expressive paintings do loving justice to the larger-than-life quality of jazz musicians of the era. Includes bios of several of the fifty-seven musicians, an author’s note, sources, a bibliography, and a foldout of Art Kane’s famous photograph.