James Seidelle (1 results)

Wonderful group of images dating to 1951, captured by amateur photographer James N. Seidelle at Lindsay's Sky Bar in Cleveland, one of the city's longest-running and most popular jazz clubs and the first to regularly feature national performers. The highlight is the series of eight stunning images featuring Bird during a week-long residency from Monday 7 to Sunday 13 May. This dates to the period when Parker was touring "with strings" but he is pictured here "sans fiddles". Particularly eye-catching are those showing him with drummer Roy Haynes. Seidelle employs the club's mirrored stage backdrop to excellent effect, catching the performers in unguarded moments; one of these features Haynes, with Parker pictured in the mirror, a promotional poster for the forthcoming attraction of Johnny Hodges - his predecessor as the pre-eminent altoist - juxtaposed on his shoulder. James Naughton Seidelle (1925-2018) was a native of Akron, Ohio, graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in electrical engineering and was subsequently employed by the Ohio Edison Power Company and then Goodyear Aerospace. His father taught him photography and film processing and, as these images attest, he was clearly a talented amateur. His keen interest in jazz is shown by the fact that his name appears in Jazz and Coda magazines during the 70s and 80s, while he was researching a discography of trombonist Bill Harris, a member of the first and second Herman Herds. Seidelle's verité images of the Sky Bar have the great virtue of capturing the atmosphere of the club and the spontaneity of the performances. The collection comprises: Charlie Parker Quintet: Benny Harris (tr), Kenny Drew (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Roy Haynes (d). 8 images. Johhny Hodges Septet: Al Sears, Emmett Berry (ts), Lawrence Brown (tb), Leroy Lovett (p), Lloyd Trotman (b), Sonny Greer (d). 10 images. Roy Eldridge-Zoot Sims: Teddy Cohen (vibes), Ted Sturgis (b): 11 images. Little Jazz and Zoot had a close musical and personal friendship, both effortlessly spanning the bridge between swing and bop, John Chilton describing Sims as "one of Roy's favourite people and favourite musicians" (Roy Eldridge: Little Jazz Giant, 2002, p. 284). Five of the images show Eldridge at the kit; he had originally trained as a drummer and Chilton cites him as saying that "I loved the drums. I used to play them in a local kids' band. I was so keen I'd get up early in the morning and get up on the roof of our garage so that the sun would catch the skins of my snare drum and dry them in such a way to let me get just the sound I wanted" (ibid., p. 6). Stan Getz Quintet: Jimmy Raney (g), Horace Silver (p), Joan Shaw (voc), Walter Bolden (d). 11 images. One image in particular catches Getz at full throttle - an uncharacteristic shot, perhaps, of the perennially "cool" West Coast tenorist. Horace Silver had joined the quintet in late 1950. A tremendously evocative collection of "in the moment" images. Ken Vail, Bird's Diary, 1996. 40 original "10 x 8" (254 x 203 mm) silver gelatin prints. In excellent condition.