Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Jazz Day by Roxane Orgill - Available

Jazz Day

The Making of a Famous Photograph

by Roxane Orgill
Francis Vallejo
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 1, 2017

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781501949531
      • File size: 28216 KB
      • Duration: 00:58:46

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Picture it: In mid-August, 1958, 57 jazz musicians gather in front of a Harlem brownstone for an epic photograph. And for a story that is, at its roots, a visual tale. Narrator Robin Miles delivers Orgill's collection of poems describing this day with a passion that paints the picture for listeners. Miles brings each unique personality to light, notably Thelonius Monk and Count Basie. The masterful characterizations and deliberate pacing of the poetry by Miles add a touch of magic to this historical account. A thorough author's note with mini-biographies on each jazz great in the picture rounds out this lyrical masterpiece. That being said, listener's won't want to miss Francis Vallejo's vibrant, playful illustrations, which show the preparations to the actual picture taking by designer Art Kane on that day. E.A.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from January 4, 2016
      On Aug. 12, 1958, 57 jazz musicians—some legends like Thelonius Monk and Count Basie, some just starting out—gathered on a Harlem stoop for a photograph taken by Art Kane for Esquire magazine. In 21 poems, Orgill (Skit-Skat, Raggedy Cat) drifts between biographical sketches of the musicians, musings on the difficulty of wrangling them into a shot (“musicians/ don’t hear/ words of instruction/ only music”), poems about the neighborhood children present, and more. An alphabetical acrostic highlights what they wore (“Regimental/ Striped/ Ties/ Umbrella, unopened”), while “There’s a Hole in the Picture” contemplates the absence of Duke Ellington (Orgill even investigated where he actually was that day). When readers eventually open a foldout page to see the photograph, the moment is magic—alive with the presence and skill of the musicians, as well as the promise and potential of the children around them. Beyond being a glorious tribute to these jazz greats, the book is also a phenomenal debut for Vallejo, whose dynamic acrylic and pastel images bring readers into the heart of the action of a day like no other. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading