Jimmy Katz
While in my teens, I saw Thelonious Monk and Art Blakey at Carnegie Hall in New York; that evening changed my life forever.
9 artworks by Jimmy Katz (Selection)
Download as PDFJazz • 9 artworks
Jimmy Katz has led an extraordinary life, from being one of the first professional ski mountaineers[...]
Jimmy Katz has led an extraordinary life, from being one of the first professional ski mountaineers in the 1970s to becoming the most celebrated jazz photographer ever. As NPR stated, “How you know you’ve made it in jazz: you get your photo taken by Jimmy Katz!”
His love for the music is contagious. It transpires through his photographs. I love his enthusiasm for his subjects, how much he knows them, how plugged in the jazz community he is. All this gives an extra depth to his portraits. Jimmy spends time with the musicians, not only as a photographer but also in recent years as a music recorder and engineer. He sits next to them while they play, works alongside them to record improvised moments of musical brilliance.
Jimmy Katz approaches photography like a jazz musician approaches music. There’s a plan, yes, but there’s always room for last-minute changes and for magic. He brings all his gear to the set and chooses on the spot the ones that work the best for that moment. Like in jazz, things are calculated AND free – a perilous exercise many fail, but one Jimmy Katz excels in.
His love for the music is contagious. It transpires through his photographs. I love his enthusiasm for his subjects, how much he knows them, how plugged in the jazz community he is. All this gives an extra depth to his portraits. Jimmy spends time with the musicians, not only as a photographer but also in recent years as a music recorder and engineer. He sits next to them while they play, works alongside them to record improvised moments of musical brilliance.
Jimmy Katz approaches photography like a jazz musician approaches music. There’s a plan, yes, but there’s always room for last-minute changes and for magic. He brings all his gear to the set and chooses on the spot the ones that work the best for that moment. Like in jazz, things are calculated AND free – a perilous exercise many fail, but one Jimmy Katz excels in.
"B.B. King"
$1,500
"Freddie Hubbard"
Photography | 22x17 in
$1,500
"Arthur Taylor"
Photography | 22x17 in
$1,500
"Ray Charles"
Photography | 22x17 in
$1,500
"Sonny Rollins"
Photography | 17x22 in
$1,500
"Ornette Coleman"
Photography | 17x22 in
$1,500
"Greg Osby"
Photography | 22x17 in
$1,500
"Keith Jarrett"
Photography | 22x17 in
$1,500
"Roscoe Mitchell"
Photography | 17x22 in
$1,500
Contact Jimmy Katz
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