Jimmy Katz : Closed Session

Portraits of New York’s jazz and blues greats, from Ray Charles to Miles Davis

In a career spanning nearly 30 years, the New York–based music photographer Jimmy Katz (born 1957) has become a key figure on the American jazz scene, and is best known for his photographs of the jazz, blues and rock musicians of New York City, the place he considers his home, inspiration and canvas.

This book includes both posed portraits and images taken during live performances of legendary musicians like Ray Charles, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis and Pat Metheny, as well as iconic figures such as Lou Reed, The Ramones, David Bowie, BB King, Sting and Chuck Berry. Each Katz photograph captures the organized chaos and intense dynamism that is characteristic of both jazz and New York City. He writes, “These portraits were made similar to the way musicians make music in a recording studio. In a ‘Closed Session.’”