*Blue Arthur*
Cyanotype on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm, HP, Extra White
Arthur Simon is a versatile and talented trumpet player who currently plays with (amongst other things I’m sure) Hakim Hamadouche in a world/jazz kind of blend. The first time I heard him play was as a guest at a CQMD gig, and he ripped it. I really like how the tones of this photo translated to the cyanotype process.
*Blue Bone*
Cyanotype on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm, HP, Extra White
Bigre! is probably my favourite contemporary Big Band. These guys are from Lyon and blend all kinds of influences, not only from jazz but from funk, rock, punk, afro-cuban, chanson française, etc. I saw them live only once, in Paris and it was one of the greatest gigs of my life. This is trombonist Sylvain Thomas doing his thing.
*Stanley in Blue*
Cyanotype on Fabirano Artistico 300gsm, HP, Extra White
This photo of Stanley Clarke taken at a concert in Paris in 2012 is part of a new project entitled « Bluer than Blues » where I revisit some of my favourite jazz and blues photographs in cyanotype prints. What you lose in detail (in my opinion) is more than compensated by the depth the dark blues convey to the images.
*Straight Shooter*
Fuji xpro2
Erik Della Penna is the lead guitarist in the latest line-up of Hazmat Modine (@hazmatmodine), and while (obviously) his guitar and banjo stylings were awesome when I saw them live last year, the other thing that struck me about him were his clear blue eyes. The kind of stare that pierces the soul, as the poets would say. I hopefully captured that, at least as much as you can from a half-length portrait.
*Red Tenor*
Fuji xpro2
I normally try to take neat or well detached concert photographies. Not that there aren’t fantastic live photos that are more grungy or cluttered, but I don’t have a knack for them. Once in a while though, I’ll shoot a photo that isn’t neat, where you can’t quite distinguish the details. Often, when I’m lucky, these convey something different, a bit more of the atmosphere of the venue maybe. Such is this photo of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s Kevin Harris, a quasi black and red.
*Wide ‘Bone*
Fuji xpro2
There’s a lot of fun to be had when taking photos of trombone players. First of all, the shape of the instrument varies based on how extended it is. It can allow for amazing diagonals or, from up close, the bell can be the center of attention. I tried different things with TJ Norris at a DDBB gig in Paris, and I quite like this one. The trombone is all slid in but the 35mm lens (30mm equivalent) makes it look super long already.
*Sylvain, Alone*
Fuji XPro2
Sylvain Luc is one of the most amazing jazz guitarists alive. The stuff that comes out of his brain and fingers puts most other musicians to shame and yet he seems like a very humble guy. He wasn’t actually alone at that gig but rather in a duet with pianist Jean-Michel Pilc. Still, I don’t normally do wide shots of musicians like this, but I felt this worked really well.
Two-Stick Julian
Fuji xpro2, 160mm, f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 6400
Shooting drummers in badly lit clubs is always tricky, because things move too fast for the camera to capture. Getting good shots is a combination of anticipation, repetition and luck. Here I managed to get Julian Addison with both sticks up and an interesting facial expression, I consider myself lucky!
One Hand Up
Fuji xpro2, 50mm, f/2, 1/100s, ISO 3200
TJ Norris is the newest in the Dirty Dozen Brass Band lineup, but he’s a fine addition, both on trombone and on vocals. I like this shot because you can see the audience in the background. I need to do more shots like this, wide enough that you can see the musicians are not playing in isolation.
Blowing in the Deep End
Fuji xpro2, 75mm, f/2.8, 1/200s, ISO 6400
There’s something super powerful about the sound of the baritone saxophone, that vibration that you not only hear but feel within you. Roger Lewis, aka The Dirty Old Man is one of my favourite baritone players. He has the power, but also the refined register, when he chooses to exert it. At that gig in Paris, he played a beautiful high register solo on a super low key version of Drown in my Own Tears sung by Greg Davis and backed by Takeshi Shimmura on guitar.
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