American Jazz Museum Exhibit Featuring the Photographs of Pulitzer Prize-Winner Dan White Opens March 10
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Feb. 27, 2006) -- Beginning March 10, the American Jazz Museum is pleased to host the first-ever gallery showing of Pulitzer Prize-winner Dan White's jazz photography in its Changing Gallery at 1616 E. 18th St. in Kansas City, Mo.
For more than two decades, White has documented the Kansas City jazz scene and many of its musicians, including Milt Abel, Art Jackson, and Queen Bey.
Juanita Moore, executive director of the American Jazz Museum, recently recounted the public's reaction in New York last September when some of the photos were shown during Jazz at Lincoln Center's tribute to Kansas City Swing.
“When we were invited to attend, we knew Dan's portraits could speak volumes about what makes 18th & Vine one of the world's great jazz crossroads. And they did, stunning everyone with their intimate sense of time and place."
Based in Kansas City, White is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer whose clients have included Sprint, Hallmark, Wal-Mart, Kodak, Pepsi, Time and Newsweek. However, his true passions have always been the sights and sounds of jazz.
“Visiting the local clubs and the Mutual Musicians Foundation near 18th & Vine, hearing these legends play, made me want to capture the history of this place for generations to come," White says.
He started the project in 1987, hoping to preserve Kansas City's role as fertile ground for the development of jazz into a mature art form. As he listened and learned, it was clear the musicians were willing to share their knowledge and traditions with those who appreciated their music, passion, and creativity.
“For the musicians, it's always been about the music," Dan says. “Even some of the oldest performers could hardly help but play as they sat for their photos. When the music starts, that's when history meets fine art."
White painstakingly establishes individualized photo shoots with his subjects and uses large-format black-and-white film and, in more recent years, digital photography to capture the grand style of Kansas City's jazz community. Dan had seen many photos of musicians shot in clubs, and decided to approach these portraits differently; he wanted a more stylistic approach.
He spent time with each musician, finding out who the individual was, before matching his vision to their style.
“We'd always start with a well thought-out idea, but sometimes it didn't pan out, so we tried different things until we knew we had it," White recounts. “Perhaps it was their hands, body language, or emotions ... Whatever most expressed their quiet beauty."
Fifty of White's jazz portraits will be shown during the exhibit. Each black and white print stands three-feet square and will be accompanied by a number of written anecdotes from interviews with the musicians.
“This show is a must see for any true jazz aficionado," Moore says. “It's a beautiful tribute to the music that inspired the creation of the American Jazz Museum, and to the musicians who keep the legacy alive."
The Fine Art of Kansas City Jazz: The Photographs of Dan White is generously underwritten by Taylor S. & Patti H. Abernathy Charitable Trust, Bank of America, Trustee; the Bradley W. and Linda J. Nicholson Foundation, and the Sprint Foundation.
About the American Jazz Museum
The sights and sounds of a uniquely American art form come alive at the American Jazz Museum. The Museum includes interactive exhibits and educational programs as well as the Blue Room, a working jazz club, and the Gem Theater, a modern 500-seat performing arts center. Located in the historic 18th and Vine District in Kansas City, Mo., this is the place where jazz masters such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, and hundreds of others defined the sounds of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Today, scholars, students, musicians, and fans are drawn here to learn about the legends, honor their legacy, or simply enjoy the best music America has to offer. For more information, visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Feb. 27, 2006) -- Beginning March 10, the American Jazz Museum is pleased to host the first-ever gallery showing of Pulitzer Prize-winner Dan White's jazz photography in its Changing Gallery at 1616 E. 18th St. in Kansas City, Mo.
For more than two decades, White has documented the Kansas City jazz scene and many of its musicians, including Milt Abel, Art Jackson, and Queen Bey.
Juanita Moore, executive director of the American Jazz Museum, recently recounted the public's reaction in New York last September when some of the photos were shown during Jazz at Lincoln Center's tribute to Kansas City Swing.
“When we were invited to attend, we knew Dan's portraits could speak volumes about what makes 18th & Vine one of the world's great jazz crossroads. And they did, stunning everyone with their intimate sense of time and place."
Based in Kansas City, White is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer whose clients have included Sprint, Hallmark, Wal-Mart, Kodak, Pepsi, Time and Newsweek. However, his true passions have always been the sights and sounds of jazz.
“Visiting the local clubs and the Mutual Musicians Foundation near 18th & Vine, hearing these legends play, made me want to capture the history of this place for generations to come," White says.
He started the project in 1987, hoping to preserve Kansas City's role as fertile ground for the development of jazz into a mature art form. As he listened and learned, it was clear the musicians were willing to share their knowledge and traditions with those who appreciated their music, passion, and creativity.
“For the musicians, it's always been about the music," Dan says. “Even some of the oldest performers could hardly help but play as they sat for their photos. When the music starts, that's when history meets fine art."
White painstakingly establishes individualized photo shoots with his subjects and uses large-format black-and-white film and, in more recent years, digital photography to capture the grand style of Kansas City's jazz community. Dan had seen many photos of musicians shot in clubs, and decided to approach these portraits differently; he wanted a more stylistic approach.
He spent time with each musician, finding out who the individual was, before matching his vision to their style.
“We'd always start with a well thought-out idea, but sometimes it didn't pan out, so we tried different things until we knew we had it," White recounts. “Perhaps it was their hands, body language, or emotions ... Whatever most expressed their quiet beauty."
Fifty of White's jazz portraits will be shown during the exhibit. Each black and white print stands three-feet square and will be accompanied by a number of written anecdotes from interviews with the musicians.
“This show is a must see for any true jazz aficionado," Moore says. “It's a beautiful tribute to the music that inspired the creation of the American Jazz Museum, and to the musicians who keep the legacy alive."
The Fine Art of Kansas City Jazz: The Photographs of Dan White is generously underwritten by Taylor S. & Patti H. Abernathy Charitable Trust, Bank of America, Trustee; the Bradley W. and Linda J. Nicholson Foundation, and the Sprint Foundation.
About the American Jazz Museum
The sights and sounds of a uniquely American art form come alive at the American Jazz Museum. The Museum includes interactive exhibits and educational programs as well as the Blue Room, a working jazz club, and the Gem Theater, a modern 500-seat performing arts center. Located in the historic 18th and Vine District in Kansas City, Mo., this is the place where jazz masters such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, and hundreds of others defined the sounds of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Today, scholars, students, musicians, and fans are drawn here to learn about the legends, honor their legacy, or simply enjoy the best music America has to offer. For more information, visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
