Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph
By Kyle Jackson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Poetic account of legendary gathering of jazz greats.
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What's the Story?
JAZZ DAY: THE MAKING OF A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH tells the strange but true story of one of the most iconic images in jazz, Art Kane's panoramic picture, "Harlem 1958." It graced the cover of Esquire magazine's issue about the Golden Age of Jazz and featured 57 musicians of various backgrounds and levels of prominence. Music writer and children's biographer Roxane Orgill brings the epic photo shoot to life with poems based on facts that have emerged about the day's events, followed by brief profiles of each of the artists explaining the references included in the poetry and directing readers to recommended listening. While many of the most successful and well-known jazz cats make appearances, such as Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, and Count Basie, Gay also sheds light on less famous but well-respected musicians such as prolific bassist Milt "Frump" Hinton, big-band swing drummer J.C. Heard, and underappreciated composer, arranger, and pianist Mary Lou Williams.
Is It Any Good?
Author Roxane Orgill tells a compelling story while evoking vivid images of late '50s Harlem. Her jazz-inspired poetry is surprisingly smooth and exciting, especially when read aloud (and with jazz accompaniment). The language in Jazz Day is complimented wonderfully by illustrator Francis Vallejo's warm, lively paintings. The renderings of each artist are carefully constructed and speak to the sense of their individuality while also emphasizing the sense of community and camaraderie shared on this special homecoming day for the scattered standard-bearers of New York's jazz scene.
Jazz Day is a perfect pick for any young jazz lover, though it can also serve as an excellent introduction to the genre and its most hallowed heroes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the origins and explosion of jazz. How did the music change and evolve as it moved out of New Orleans to New York, Chicago, and beyond?
What is the significance of Harlem in African-American culture? Who are some of the musicians and writers most associated with this arts hub?
Do you have a favorite jazz musician? Is he or she in the photograph? If not, look up one of the artists and check out their music!
Book Details
- Author: Roxane Orgill
- Illustrator: Francis Vallejo
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Arts and Dance , History , Music and Sing-Along
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- Publication date: March 8, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 66
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
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