A Great Day in Harlem!

August 12, 1958. 58 years ago, 57 of the most influential jazz musicians ever met in Harlem for a photograph, taken by Art Kane working for Esquire, that has spawned a movie about the event and references in another, The Girls in the Band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvzdxOaS-LQ

There has never been another like it, before or since. It is a monument to the men — and three ladies: Maxine Sullivan, Marian McPartland and Mary Lou Williams — whose music radiated out from New York to the world.

Check this amazing site, which allows you to identify all of the musicians in the picture. Also, check the Wikipedia entry for more great information.

It will be forever know as A Great Day in Harlem!

Comments are closed.