"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Night Moves

Herman Leonard, the famed jazz photographer passed away last weekend. He was 87. Here is some of his work:

Duke Ellington

Sinatra

Miles

Art Blakey

Dexter Gordon

Thank you, Mr. Leonard. You left us some bounty.

11 comments

1 patrick b   ~  Aug 20, 2010 3:06 pm

Nice, that might be the best picture of Sinatra. Whenever someone uses the term "hipster" in my mind's eye I see this era-Miles. But he's always wearing a neckerchief in my mind's eye. Of course, nobody means that when they say "hipster" now.

2 Alex Belth   ~  Aug 20, 2010 3:15 pm

The Dexter Gordon one is priceless too.

3 bags   ~  Aug 20, 2010 3:44 pm

Love his work. Marvelous. And combines two of my favorite things...

4 thelarmis   ~  Aug 20, 2010 3:54 pm

my mom called me to tell me about this. i think it was wednesday.

dexter is the king of cool. don't forget francis wolff, either. he's the main blue note guy. some of the best covers were dexter - a swingin' affair, dexter calling ...

[3] your work is terrific, too!

5 rbj   ~  Aug 20, 2010 4:47 pm

The Duke one is amazing. Also like Blakely one.

Felix Hernandez vs. AJ tonight? Could get ugly, glad I'm off to the Mud Hens.

6 RIYank   ~  Aug 20, 2010 4:55 pm

My Little Pony back to the DL.
You hate to get toooptimistic, but is that all she wrote for the Sox?

7 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Aug 20, 2010 5:43 pm

These are all iconic images. The Duke looks touched by the lord himself. When one sees these photos, you wish you could have been there. Imagine the scene for some in the Thirties and Forties in NYC. Real stuff conjured from the air by true originators, and not reported in lifestyle press because it didn't exist. But, if you were there then, you ain't here now.

8 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 20, 2010 5:45 pm

[6] Yes. Half their starting lineup is out for the year.

9 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 20, 2010 5:46 pm

Oh, and this photography is so good it's moving. Incredible stuff that could only be made better by playing the corresponding music in the background. Thanks, Alex.

10 bp1   ~  Aug 20, 2010 6:12 pm

[9] Indeed. My dad was a pretty serious amateur photographer and taught me just enough to appreciate a really well done B&W image. These, obviously, are amazing examples. Each picture goes from pure white to jet black, with all the tonal values between. Just wonderfully executed photographs. I had never heard of this man before, but he had mad talent, no doubt. Wow.

11 Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO   ~  Aug 21, 2010 5:33 am

Beautiful. All these photographs are classic, but I agree about the Duke one. Truly touched by the divine.

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