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Logo of de Saisset Museum featuring a stylized

Jazz Greats

Black and white photographs of musicians Earl Hines and Eric Dolphy. Images by Chuck Stewart.

Black and white photographs of musicians Earl Hines and Eric Dolphy. Images by Chuck Stewart.

January 26 - June 16, 2018 (closed March 17-April 4)

An exploration and celebration of America's cultural heritage.

The photographs featured in Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection capture exuberant moments of performance, the ecstatic energy of enraptured audiences, as well as more intimate and reflective moments of well-known performers. The collection of photographs also provides insight into United States cultural history. The exhibition is comprised of 34 photographs that portray artists from varied genres in music and dance including legends from the uniquely American art forms of jazz and modern dance.

The photographs in this exhibition range from the 1920s into the 1980s and include images of some of the most iconic jazz performers: Miles Davis, John & Alice Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Eric Dolphy, Louis Armstrong, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzy Gillespie. There are also images that feature members of local communities entertaining their neighbors and others yet highlighting the diverse audiences attending these performances and being swept into the energy provided by captivating performers.

Taken as a whole, the images hint at the power that our American art forms, and particularly jazz music, have played in uniting audiences and bridging communities.

The artworks on display are by 16 photographers who are as dynamic as their subjects: Aaron Siskind, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Arthur H. Fellig, Barbara Morgan, Chuck Stewart, Eduard Van Der Elsken, Edward Steichen, Gjon Mili, Gordon Parks, Jonas Dovydenas, Lisette Model, Marc Pokempner, Michael L. Abramson, Milton J. Hinton, Paul D’Amato, and William Gottlieb.


 

This exhibition is provided by Bank of America’s Art in Our Communities ® program.

 

 

About Bank of America’s Art in Our Communities
Through the Art in Our Communities® program, Bank of America has transformed its collection into a unique resource from which museums and nonprofit galleries may borrow complete or customized exhibitions at no cost. By providing these exhibitions and the support required to host them, this program helps enrich communities culturally and economically and generates vital revenue for institutions. Since its launch in late 2008, more than 120 exhibitions have been loaned to museums worldwide.


 

Images above, left to right: Chuck Stewart, Earl "Fatha" Hines, 1966, gelatin silver print and Chuck Stewart, Eric Dolphy, 1964, gelatin silver print. © Chuck Stewart, Courtesy of Chuck Stewart Photography, LLC/Fireball Entertainment Group.
Image on exhibition listing: Chuck Stewart, Earl "Fatha" Hines, 1966, gelatin silver print. © Chuck Stewart, Courtesy of Chuck Stewart Photography, LLC/Fireball Entertainment Group.
Dec 1, 2017
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Opening Reception

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Join us for the opening reception of Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection

6:00-7:00 p.m. - Member Preview

7:00-8:30 p.m. - Public Opening Reception

 

This event is free, but RSVP requested.

Related Programming

Jazz Education Days: February 7 & 8, 2018

A series of performances, panel conversations, and lectures will be offered in conjunction with this exhibition. These programs are developed in partnership with JazzReach, -- a nationally recognized New York City-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and teaching of jazz music, -- as a two-day residency on the Santa Clara University campus.
 

Jazz Family Day: April 14, 2018

An afternoon of hands-on artmaking and performances will be offered to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. 

 

These programs are free and open to the public, but several will require advance RSVP.

Check our Calendar of Events for more details on upcoming programs.

 

The above programs are co-sponsored by Bank of America; the de Saisset Museum; SCU Presents; the Center for the Arts and Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences, Santa Clara University; the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, Santa Clara University; the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Santa Clara University; Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University; SCU's Department of Music; SCU's Department of Ethnic Studies; and San Jose Jazz.

Students respond to Jazz Greats

Students from Robin Tremblay-McGaw's Spring 2018 class "English 2A: Art, Culture, and Social Justice", from SCU's Department of English, offer reviews and reflections on the exhibition:

Review by Claire Salcido

Review by Siobhan Ortolano