Jazz Seen by William Claxton

Hand Signed by William Claxton

William Claxton is the preeminent name in American jazz photography, and this 289-page book captures the enormous scope of his talent. From now-legendary shots of jazz icons to newer pictures of lesser-known artists, Claxton has seen it all, and it's all here. As a photographer, Claxton loves movement, and much of the best work here consists of candid shots that capture artists engaged in the moment of creation. No poses, no props, just a musician, an instrument, and magic charging the atmosphere. Claxton is uniquely able to make himself invisible, allowing his subjects the space to emote, create, think. When Claxton does pose an artist, the instrument is never out of view: Sonny Rollins, young, intense, his horn slung across his hip like a rifle; Wynton Marsalis, grinning like a Cheshire cat, his arms cradling a half-dozen horns; Jacky Terrason, full of energy, lying under his piano. Beyond Claxton's obvious technical mastery, this is an astonishing collection. Claxton has documented so many personalities, so much art, so many stories, that Jazz Seen transcends the ambitions of a mere book of photography. This is history. --S. Duda