Joe Turner, ca. 1960
14 ¼ in. x 9 3/8 in.; 24 x 18 ½ in. framed
Ray Charles, ca. 1960
14 3/8 x 9 ¾ in.; 24 x 19 ¼ in. framed
Milt Jackson, ca. 1960
11 x 10 7/8 in.; 20 ¼ x 20 ¾ in. framed
Aretha Franklin, ca. 1960
11 × 10 13/16 in.; 20 ¼ x 20 ¾ in. framed
Robert Pete Williams, ca. 1960
14 7/16 x 9 ½ in.; 24 ¼ x 19 in. framed
Miles Davis, ca. 1960
11 1/8 x 10 ¾ in.; 20 ¼ x 20 ¾ in. framed
John Coltrane, ca. 1960
14 x 9 ½ in.; 23 ½ x 19 in. framed
Lee Friedlander (American, b. 1934)
Jazz & Blues Portfolio, 1983
Seven dye transfer prints
These images date from around 1960, near the start of artist Lee Friedlander’s career, when he was an in-house photographer for Atlantic Records and produced many of the photos that graced its album covers. The portraits pay homage to the legendary jazz and blues musicians who laid the foundation for American music as we know it today. Friedlander’s photographs offer candid glimpses into the lives of iconic artists during recording sessions, live performances, and tours.
Friedlander, who will turn 89 this year and is still working, is one of the most recognized and prolific American contemporary photographers. He initially came to prominence in MoMA’s 1967 New Documents exhibition, which also debuted the work of photographers Diane Arbus and Garry Winograd. Since then, he has published nearly two dozen books and has been the subject of an even greater number of exhibitions at museums worldwide.
More information on Lee Friedlander can be found here: