Customer Reviews

The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff

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Yes, there IS a calendar version of this book but the calendar just scratches the surface of this collection.

I intitially borrowed this book while looking for reference images for a video project. It became obvious to me in a very short time that I would HAVE to purchase this book. Even though I am a professional photographer and filmmaker, there are very few photography books I am willing to spend my money on. There are many I like but few I wish to own. This book, like all of the photo books I've purchased, moved me in a powerful way. These are beautifully executed, intimate black and white portraits. Most of the photographs are spontaneous and shot during recording rehearsals. Several of the images graced the covers and sleeves of the records produced by the jazz record label, Blue Note.

Francis Wolff was not just Blue Note's primary photographer (and quite talented), he was also the label's co-founder. His already skillful eye was that much more in tune (no pun intended) with his subjects and sensitive to the working environment. He was able to capture subtle moments few likely could. Most images are illuminated by a single light source, spotlighting the artists and capturing them in moments of thought, exhilaration, playfulness and intensity.

Seeing greats like Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, a young Herbie Hancock and Hank Mobley in these intimate moments early in their careers is powerful. The design is outstanding and the printing if these photographs is impressive. This is a must have book for the music lover, photographer, or photography lover. If you don't fit into one of the above catagories, don't sweat it. You will love this book simply because it is beautiful.

Good, insightfull text, great photographs, oustanding print quality: a must have for all lovers of jazz, jazz musicians and photography. The photographer's empathy for his subject(s) just oozes from the pages of this wonderful book. There's a picture there of a dreamy John Coltrane, that just totally catches the sensitivity, the intelligence, the emotionality of a great musician and a great human being! A must buy !

Earlier this year I reviewed Blue Note: Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff, that I originally thought was a paperback version of this coffee-table book. In fact both books are separate editions and full of Wolff's stunning photos. Just look through these pages at the two hundred photos and so many of them seem like covers for a twelve-inch Blue Note LP minus the lettering. No wonder Reid Miles wonderful cover designs looked a treat when he had these great images to work with.

Unlike the paperback all the photos in this book were take in Rudy Van Gelder's windowless recording studio with the musicians merging into the black or dark grey background, this gives them extra credence because there are no detractions to take your eye away from the person. The players are the cream of the East Coast sound during the fifties and sixties and several get repeat shots, Hank Mobley appears eleven times for instance. A couple of the ladies are included too, Melba Liston and Shirley Scott. A nice touch, I thought, was the name, included in the captions, of the LP recording session that the photos were taken at.

The book is a beautiful print and design job, photos in 150 screen, though not the best for quality reproduction I think the original prints must have been of the highest quality because they do look very impressive on the page. In the first few pages there are essays about Blue Note records and Wolff. The design and typography is first class.

The Blue Note paperback I mentioned is smaller and has some great color shots, probably more text and a slightly busier layout and if you like Wolff's images I think it's well worth getting. Both books are a visual celebration of some of the greatest jazz ever recorded. You can almost hear it!

***SEE SOME INSIDE PAGES by clicking 'customer images' under the cover.

I can't believe my eyes, this book is full of beautiful pictures, magic moments in the Blue Note studio with the jazz masters, all of them.
Not to talk about the price, what's 20 bucks for a book like this? it's worth so much more. A huge book in every aspect. I've got just one word: INCREDIBLE. Buy it.
zl1

I must admit I am a little confused as to why the other reviews list this as a book.....