SKIP BOLEN's HOT LINKS


JAZZ PHOTOGRAPHER LINKS
(They just don't get any better than this!!! These are the guys I wanna be half as good as when I grow up someday!!!)

RAY AVERY : He once told me his motto was "Stay up late and shoot straight." No need to say any more... just get your hands on his book Stars of Jazz and read all about his jazz record shops, jazz photography and giving William Claxton his first exhibition of jazz photography!!! And if you have a chance, stop by Catalina's Bar & Grill at 1640 North Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood to see Ray's wall of jazz photographs. In 1990 Ray founded the Jazz Photographers Association of Southern California and in 1997 received the Milt Hinton Award as photographer of the year. We'll all miss him.

WILLIAM CLAXTON : His famous photographs of Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, and a strung-out Art Pepper say it all. Curl up with his book "Jazz Seen" and spend hours going through the entire book. Other great books include "Young Chet" and "Claxography". And if you're lucky to find the Japanese book "Jazz West Coast-Artwork of Pacific Jazz Records" by William Claxton...

WILLIAM GOTTLIEB : William took portraits of prominent jazz musicians and personalities, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Hines, Thelonious Monk, Stan Kenton, Ray McKinley, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Carter to name a few of the some sixteen hundred photographs taken from 1938 to 1948.

HERMAN LEONARD : Another friend and a New Orleans based jazz photographer. Herman spent years apprenticeship with Yousuf Karsh, the world famous portrait photographer. Since then, Herman's work has become an ubiquitous presence in contemporary culture. His recent book Jazz Memories is filled with amazingly composed and captivating images. When you're in New Orleans... stop by Maximos Restaurant in the French Quarter where Herman's photographs cover the walls - take a while to admire these amazingly beautiful hand printed images. And while you're in the French Quarter, stop by A Gallery For Fine Photography where you can see more of Herman's work. In 1999 Herman received the Milt Hinton Award as photographer of the year.

FRANCIS WOLFF : Soon Mosaic Gallery will be offering close to 1000 of Francis Wolff photographs from various Blue Note sessions - but in the meantime they offer a small select few of his images from this important period in jazz - and they're reasonably priced. And if you don't have the book: "The Blue Note Years, The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff" - then you best get on ebay and track it down.

PHOTOGRAPHY INDUSTRY LINKS
(Great resources for cameras, lighting, printing, and general information!!!)

A&I : Open my kind of hours - in Hollywood located at 1016 N. Sycamore Ave., Hollywood, CA. Tel: 323.856.5280. A&I B+W Exhibition Printing Services: 745 North LaBrea Avenue in Los Angeles. Tel: 323.933.2777.

B&H PHOTO : The professionals source for ALL your photographic needs on the EAST coast with the largest showroom in the world. Their address is 420 Ninth Avenue (between 33rd & 34th Streets), New York City. Toll free tel: 1.800.947.9970 or tel: 1.212.444.6670.

FOCUS FOTO FINISHERS : Very personalized service by the owner and master printer Gerard. In Hollywood located at 138 South LaBrea Avenue in Los Angeles. Tel: 323.934.0013, fax 323.934.9658.

LEICA : The official Leica agency in the U.S.A. and offering the only factory-authorized repair facility in the U.S.A. Also includes information on new products, press releases, and the Leica Gallery.

MOLE-RICHARDSON : Designers and manufacturers of specialized lighting equipment for Motion Picture, Television, Video and Still Photographic Studios.

PHOTO IMPACT : A full service Black and White Lab bringing an innovative approach to the art of film processing, custom fiber printing and digital imaging. Ask for Jimmy. In Hollywood at 931 N. Citrus Avenue, Hollywood, CA. Tel: 1.213.461.0141 or 1.800.434-IMPACT, fax: 1.213.461.1126.

PHOTO LINKS : More links related to photography than you can possibly imagine!

PHOTO LINKS.2 : And if that wasn't enough photo related links to keep you busy, try this one from a guy who obviously has a lot of free time on his hands.

SAMY's CAMERA : The professionals source for ALL your photographic needs on the WEST coast. The ONLY place to rent lighting, cameras and accessories. Now at their new location at 431 South Fairfax, Los Angeles. Tel: 1.323.938.2420 or toll free at tel: 1.800.321.4SAM, fax: 1.213.937.2919.

ALL ABOUT JAZZ : The name says it all - it's ALL ABOUT JAZZ!!! It's a complete online jazz magazine and resource - this site is hooked up to everything! It's got news, reviews, interviews, CD release information, profiles, columns, global jazz information, directories, a gallery (it's got me), a calendar and I repeat - it's got E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G !!! Check out the print versions or download the latest pdf issues of All About Jazz New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.

BLUENOTE RECORDS : It's cool, it's hot and everything in-between! It's jazz, and it's BLUE NOTE Records - the finest Jazz since 1939.

BLUENOTE RECORDS FRANCE : If the U.S. version of Blue Note Records wasn't enough for you, the French version with tracks from the new jazz generation (artists like St. Germain and Erik Truffaz) was so much more and incredibly well designed. Unfortunately this site is no longer up and it redirects you to the domestic BlueNote site.

MILES DAVIS : The only "officially sanctioned" site, meaning that it has been authorized by Davis's estate. It contains numerous audio and video clips of Davis and interviews with musicians who knew him and an elaborate multimedia biography that will be rolled out in 12 month installments.

FANTASY RECORDS : Information on new Fantasy Jazz Releases (including bios and itineraries for selected artists) plus a CD catalog.

IAJE : International Association of Jazz Educators - with a mission to ensure the continued growth and development of jazz through education and outreach. The IAJE is a voluntary non-profit organization serving over 8000 members in 40 countries with programs that nurture the understanding and appreciation of jazz and it's heritage, providing leadership to educators regarding curriculum and performance, and assists teachers, students and artists with information and resources!

JAZZ 88 FM - THE LEADING JAZZ RADIO STATION : Jazz 88.3 FM WBGO, one of the top stations for jazz and blues in America coming out of Newark, NJ - a stones throw across the water from New York City. Check them out - either tune them in or listen to them online!.

JAZZ CLUBS WORLDWIDE : What do you think?!? Of course, it's information about clubs in more than 40 countries from Azerbaijan to the United States.

JAZZ CORNER : A commercial service providing home pages for mare than 60 "independent" jazz musicians, including Ben Allison, Joanne Brackeen, Robin Eubanks, Dave Holland, Jonny King and Renee Rosnes. All pages are designed in-house and contain biographies, itineraries, sound bites, discographies and e-mail addresses.

JAZZ FOUNDATION OF AMERICA : The JFA was established by a group of caring jazz enthusiasts to preserve the interests of an art Congress recently designated "a rare and valuable national treasure" - jazz. By soliciting donations and sponsorships, the JFA promotes cultural and educational activities that build awareness of the music and of the musicians that make it. In an effort to support these musicians, the JFA operates the Jazz Musicians' Emergency Fund (JMEF). This fund assists struggling jazz artists, many of whom are getting older or sick, with medical, financial, and career development needs. They are masters in their fields, but without help, many would be homeless or unable to work. And that is a tragedy indeed.

JAZZ ON LINE : More jazz and all that jazz!

KCRW 89.9 : In Los Angeles where mornings become eclectic - combining world beat, pop, jazz, rap, hip-hop, reggae, African, new wave, classical and new music with numerous live in-studio interviews and performances. Additionally, KCRW airs more news programing from NPR than any station in Southern California. Check them out - either tune them in or listen to them online!.

KKJZ 88.1 - THE LEADING JAZZ RADIO STATION : When you're cruising' around Los Angeles in that 1964 Mercedes 190sl convertible or you're sittin' at home listening to your vintage Macintosh tube stereo receiver, you gotta tune in to 88.1 KKJZ... 24 hour jazz!!! We'll miss you Chuck Niles - you were the best!

NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS' CLINIC : The NOMC is an innovative not-for-profit medical and wellness partnership offering health care to New Orleans' most precious resource: it's musicians. Sponsors are the Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, and the LSU Health Care Network. The NOMC addresses all the health care needs of musicians (infamous for taking better care of their instruments than their bodies) and their families.

NPR JAZZ ONLINE : Radio programs, NPR's Jazz from Lincoln Center, jazz features, jazz news, CD & book reviews, listings of NPR stations, links and much much more. Listen to Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Jazz Profiles hosted by legendary singer Nancy Wilson. A truly valuable jazz resource.

SMALLS RECORDS : Luke Kaven founded Smalls Records in order to document significant musical developments connected with Smalls (New York's world-famous Jazz club) and the Fat Cat - and to make those recordings available to the public.  He has created an encompassing creative environment for the exemplary artists whose talents made Smalls famous around the world, and for their successors at the Fat Cat -- while striving to represent artistic excellence, thematic and historical continuity, and above all, honesty and integrity.

THE VERVE MUSIC GROUP : Includes GRP, Impulse!, Blue Thumb, and Verve Records. Thousands of album and artist pages - some of the very best artists in music today like Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, George Benson and more, and also manage the best catalog in the business with classic jazz releases from the top jazz artists in the world like Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Nina Simone and many others.

WWOZ 90.7 : New Orleans music from blues to jazz, cajun, zydeco, gospel, Brazilian and Caribbean - WWOZ keeps the music and musical heritage of my home, the Big Easy, alive and loud -- check them out and listen to them online!