Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph

written by Roxane Orgill; illustrated by Francis Vallejo

On August 12, 1958, Art Kane, a graphic designer and lover of jazz, invited any and all jazz musicians to come to 126th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues to have a photo taken. Fifty-eight musicians came, and the result was this famous photograph. Jazz Day tells the story of that photograph in poems and paintings.

On this page you will find links to music by the musicians depicted in the poems and paintings. Listen to the music and celebrate the amazing richness and diversity of jazz music.


Milt Hinton

Court Basie

Lestor Young

Mary-Lou Williams

Thelonius Monk

Rex Stewart

Duke Ellington

Maxine Sullivan

Eddie Locke

Dizzy Gillespie

Roy Eldridge

J.C Heard

Gerry Mulligan

Willie the Lion Smith