Sam stephenson, author of the jazz loft project, takes us inside. Eugene smith in new york 19571965, a book by the jazz loft projects director, sam stephenson, documents in photographs and text the legendary afterhours jazz jam sessions and other occurrences that took place at 821 sixth avenue from 1957 to 1965. Smith was also a pack rat who thrived on urgency, risk, nerves, and the desire to destroy to. Eugene smiths jazz loft project has been legendary in the worlds of art, photography, and music for more than forty years, but until the publication of the jazz loft project, no one had seen smiths extraordinary photographs or read any of the firsthand accounts of those who were there and lived to tell the tales. All of the photographs featured in the exhibition are also included in the new 288page hardcover book the jazz loft project written by sam stephenson and published by alfred a. More details on the jazz loft project can be found at. Sam stephensons book the jazz loft project documents w. The jazz loft project the leonard lopate show wnyc. Led by sam stephenson of dukes center for documentary studies, the project uncovers the stories and sounds of 821 sixth avenue, a loft building in manhattans wholesale flower district where major jazz musicians. The book, a compilation of behindthescenes images and impressions. Loved the vignettes and the photos and the memorabilia stephenson used in his project. Rarely is history documented in such a way as to allow the reader to get a tangible taste of the surroundings of an era let alone an era as magical as the 50s and 60s new york and its jazz scene. Drawing on the perspectives of contemporary documentary artists and writers, books in the series will offer new and important ways to think about learning and doing documentary work and help build a historical and theoretical base for the study and practice of documentary.
Reston is a censusdesignated place in fairfax county, virginia. More information about the book can be found on the jazz loft projects website. Harold discussing one of smitihs photos during an interview with sara fishko for the film t he jazz loft. The jazz loft project records consist of the research and administrative records of author sam stephensons jazz loft project, which documented the events and inhabitants including w. The jazz loft project center for documentary studies at. Eugene smith, a 38yearold magazine photographer, left his comfortable world to move into a dilapidated loft building at 821 sixth avenue in new york city.
Eugene smith moved into a lower manhattan loft which served as a. A landmark book this will be an essential book for jazz fans, photographer lovers and those interested in the history of new york. The film, a followup to fishkos jazz loft radio series, as well as author sam stephensons book, the jazz loft project, brings hundreds of photographs by acclaimed life magazine photographer w. The series will begin its national broadcast on dec. Eugene smiths jazz loft project has been legendary in the worlds of. Eugene smith, a fascinating documentary directed by sara fishko, tells the story of smiths peculiar endeavor and pays conscientious tribute to the mans. Every obsessive deserves his own obsessive boswell, and w.
In 1998, sam stephenson discovered smiths jazz loft photographs and tapes, which had remained unseen for 40 years, and spent the following seven years cataloging, archiving, selecting, and editing smiths materials for a brilliantly ambitious book, the jazz loft project. Eugene smith moved into a lower manhattan loft which served as a latenight hangout for jazz musicians. The new york times dwight garner called this book chaotic and soulful and an elegiac stew of sight and sound, and a. Eugene smith took thousands of photographs and recorded thousands of hours of audio in his loft building, capturing the legendary musicians of the day. The new york loft jazz scene of the 1970s was a pivotal period for uncompromising, artistproduced work. All photographs, texts, videos, and other artwork appearing on the jazz loft project facebook page are by the artists. Eugene smiths jazz loft project has been legendary in the worlds of art, photography, and music for more than forty years, but until the publication of the jazz loft project, no one had seen smiths extraordinary photographs or read any of the firsthand accounts of. Sights and sounds december 5, 2009 in 1957, photographer w. Eugene smith, whose beguiling life and legacy are explored in stephensons new book. Every member of the jazz p home page of the jazz project, a musiciangroup from tironto. Eugene smith in new york 19571965, a book by the jazz loft project s director, sam stephenson, documents in photographs and text the legendary afterhours jazz jam sessions and other occurrences that took place at 821 sixth avenue from 1957 to 1965.
Harold was interviewed for the project in 2007, part of which can be heard here. Visit the jazz loft project website one of only thirteen books in 2009 to make each year end lists of publishers weekly, amazon, and the new york times. Eugene smith and the jazz loft project the new york times. The jazz loft project, devoted to preserving and cataloging the works of smith, is directed by sam stephenson at the center for documentary studies at duke university in cooperation with center for creative photography ccp, part of the university of arizona and the smith estate. More details on the jazz loft project can be found at jazzloftproject. Faced with a flagging jazz economy, a group of young avantgarde improvisers chose to eschew the commercial sphere and develop alternative venues in the abandoned factories and warehouses of lower manhattan. Eugene smith from 821 sixth avenue, 19571965 hardcover november 24, 2009 by sam stephenson author 4. In 1957, eugene smith, a thirtyeightyearold magazine photo. Like the american renaissance of emerson, hawthorne, dickinson. The exhibition evokes the jazz loft through more than 200 images, several hours of audio, and 16mm film footage of smith working in the loft.
Books center for documentary studies at duke university. Eugene smith from 821 sixth avenue, 19571965 hardcover 24 nov. Eugene smith to the screen for the first time, as well as some of the 4,000 hours of audio he recorded, the film features commentary by musicians steve reich, carla bley, jason moran, ronnie free, and many. The samples from the tapes that stephenson had transcribed work with the photos to bring a moment in jazz loft life as perhaps no work in any other medium, including documentary cinema, ever has. Founded in 1964, reston was influenced by the garden city movement that emphasized planned, selfcontained communities that intermingled green space, residential neighborhoods, and commercial development. The book, a compilation of behindthescenes images and impressions from a bygone era, is the result of. A work of social archaeology and a testament to the artists whose music caught all the tumult and excitement of a changing america. The jazz loft project ron free drummer and his trio played at the jazz loft presentation and book signing by author sam stephenson at the at literary boo. Guide to the jazz loft project records, 19502012 and. His research was eventually consolidated into the jazz loft project book and website.
We build audiences in order to build community around this music, because it is important to the citys historic identity but also everchanging and contemporary. Eugene smith from 821 sixth avenue, 19571965 by sam stephenson. The jazz project is a group of jazz loving singers who have come together to perform modern jazz songs and jazz standards in exciting harmonies and arrangements. Sam stephenson, author of the new book the jazz loft project and the man who uncovered the tapes in the smith archive, notes that there. The book the jazz loft project is an outgrowth of the larger project at the center for documentary studies to organise and present the 4,000 hours of tape recordings and some 40,000 pictures that smith made at 821 from 1957 to 1965 although smith occupied the loft. Eugene smith has his in sam stephenson fred kaplan, new york magazine. In 1957, eugene smith walked out of his comfortable settled worldhis longtime wellpaying job at life and the home he shared with his wife and childrento move into a dilapidated, fivestory loft building in new york citys wholesale flower district. Eugene smith from 821 sixth avenue, 19571965 sam stephenson, author, w. It is a comprehensive restoration of 821 sixth avenue, the fivestory building whose tenants included w. As his epic pittsburgh project broke down, smith found solace in the chaotic, somnambulistic world of the loft and its artists. The jazz loft project center for documentary studies at duke. Chronicles the jazz scene from unknowns to wellknowns as they passed through eugenes smith jazz loft located on the at 821 sixth avenue, nyc. Jazz music of the mid20th century returns to the spotlight on thursday, dec.