Leonard's Jazz Photos On Display COLUMBIA (KBIA) - Jazz legends Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis are making a local appearance at the Boone County National Bank in downtown Columbia. The "We Always Swing" Jazz Series is sponsoring an exhibit by celebrated jazz photographer Herman Leonard. In the late 1940's as a struggling young portrait photographer Leonard decided he wanted to shoot his favorite musicians. But he says it wasn't that simple.
"I was flat broke, I couldn't afford the entrance fee, but I did want to photograph these people whose music I loved. So I asked the club owner -- can I come in and shoot pictures, and I'll give you the prints in return -- and I made deals with two or three clubs that way, so I had the entr¿e to get in there," he said.
These photos of shadowy, smoky rooms, of sweating musicians, and soaring instruments are evocative of the heyday of jazz, defining for later generations a visual representation of the era.
At 79, Leonard has been taking pictures most of his life, and jazz has not been his only subject matter. From working for Playboy and Life magazine to documenting Marlon Brando, Leonard has traveled the world extensively, collecting a sizeable catalogue of work. But in all of this work, Leonard remains faithful to one recurring theme.
"It's all having to do with people, whether they're musicians, clowns or what have you, I don't care, you're interesting to me regardless of what your profession is, and that's what I want to record."
Jazz photography by Herman Leonard will be on display until March 15th in the downtown lobby of the Boone County National Bank. Herman Leonard will be signing copies of his book, JAZZ MEMORIES, at the 9th Street Bookstore today from noon to 2pm.

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