Jazz

1950 · ref. 190253 — London: 1950s. Vivid images of jazz greats by one of the "obscure guys" of British jazz photography - from the collection of Charlie Watts From the collection of Rolling Stones drummer and jazz aficionado Charlie Watts: a delightful and absorbing archive of largely unpublished photographs by Jamie Hodgson an unsung hero of British jazz photography capturing both the exuberance and inwardness of the music. Among the jazz greats pictured are Dizzy Gillespie Ella Fitzgerald Duke Ellington Billy Strayhorn and Louis Armstrong. Perhaps the stand out photographs here are two superb studio images of Strayhorn one a memorable image showing him observing a goldfish in its bowl used on the cover of David Hajdu's 1996 biography Lush Life but unattributed another a delightful and unforgettable portrait of "Strays" lying on the studio floor cigarette in hand legs crossed wine glass within reach working on a score marked in 12/8 time with a quill pen and ink stand. A sequence of eight images focus on Louis Armstrong and date from 1956 through to 1970: one a particularly exuberant portrait of Pops sharing the limelight with Trummy Young Barrett Deems at the kit. These were nearly all taken in concert the exception being one marked "solo visit. Rehearsing with Norman del Mar conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall for a concert in aid of the Hungarian Releif sic Fund. December 10th 1956". There are two fine shots of Dizzy Gillespie both in tux in his dressing room looking thoughtful and another of his up-tilted horn in its case the tag from his recent visit to France still attached to the handle. There is a witty bleached-out studio shot of Jimmy Rushing leaning into the horn of a gramophone and further images of the great singer one a boisterous backstage portrait of Rushing with Harry Carney and Jimmy Hamilton sitting in Rushing's capacious lap! smiling and laughing gathered on the stairs leading up to the gents' toilets and holding a gamut of reed instruments; plus a terrific image of "Mr. Five by Five" raising a pint behind the bar of a pub recalling Basie's reminiscence that "Me and old Rush. We were some pair. We just wanted to have a good time" Basie p. 37. Other portraits include a petulant Ella Fitzgerald Duke Ellington and individual images of Ellington alumni Paul Gonsalves Johnny Hodges Ray Nance Harry Carney Barrett Deems and Sam Woodyard; a chuckling Oscar Peterson; Lionel Hampton with Humphrey Lyttelton; Bud Freeman; a humorous shot of Eddie Condon sitting at a bar and scowling playfully; a tight close-up of a beaming Lionel Hampton; drummer Gus Johnson accompanying bassist Bob Haggart; and Ray Charles performing at the Capital Radio Jazz Festival in 1982. A full listing is available on request. For Hodgson 1930-2006 jazz was a private passion and these remarkable photographs did not see the light of day until a 2006 exhibition Masters of Jazz: Unseen Portraits held in the foyer of the National Theatre. In 2007 Jazz Improv magazine described him as one of the "obscure guys" of British jazz photography. His Guardian obituary noted that he "became known for his hobby rather than his profession. The man who owned the Kinnerton Street studio in London's Knightsbridge for many years earned his living in fashion and family photography. But it was the recent exhibition of 50 of his pictures in the National Theatre foyer… that attracted more attention than anything previously shown by the largely anonymous Hodgson. Few knew of his work within the music world and fewer still knew of these unguarded often intimate images which were Hodgson's personal homage to the stars he observed and worshipped. All were taken during British tours many in the privacy of dressing rooms across London or in Hodgson's studio… The Guardian jazz critic John Fordham regards these images as 'wonderful pictures'. 'They catch the mood on the night of jazz on and offstage' he said 'and they are very expressive of the big personalities of a lot of those old guys who started touring here in the 1950s and 60s after there had been a dearth of live US jazz in Britain'. Hodgson was a Londoner who took up photography after completing his national service in 1950. Starting out as a freelance he began by taking whatever commissions came his way - news and features aerial and architectural photography or commercial and children's pictures. A stint with the Mayflower Studios brought him into contact with advertising and various television personalities including Frankie Howerd Harry Secombe the Crazy Gang and the Ted Heath Band. In 1956 he set up his own studio where he did fashion shoots with Tania Mallet Jean Shrimpton and Sandra Paul… He caught the change in mood from the snooty static haute couture fashion shoots of the 1950s to the more playful popular looks of swinging London in the 1960s. And at night he sneaked out to shoot his favourite jazz and blues bands playing across the capital". An important and captivating collection of jazz images imbued with the photographer's deep affection for the musicians the spontaneity of the portraits matching that of the music itself. Together 95 black and white photographs 46 measuring 223 x 170 mm; 49 measuring 402 x 305 mm each with identifying caption on verso by the photographer some with studio wet stamps or labels a number signed by Hodgson. Preserved in the photographer's own commercial boxes. Three prints Duke Ellington Billy Sytrayhorn Louis Armstrong framed and glazed by auction house overall measuring 445 x 620 mm. In excellent condition. Count Basie Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie 1987. unknown