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William Claxton: Jazzlife Hardcover – Special Edition, 26 May 2006

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 696 pages
  • Publisher: Taschen GmbH; Limited signed edition edition (26 May 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 3822851663
  • ISBN-13: 978-3822851661
  • Product Dimensions: 54 x 19 x 65.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,273,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description

About the Author

The photographer: William Claxton holds a special place in the history of American - particularly jazz - photography. Since his early career - shooting for LIFE, Paris Match, and Vogue, among other magazines - Claxton has worked with and become friends with many Hollywood luminaries and jazz musicians, most notably Steve McQueen and Chet Baker (whom Claxton first photographed in 1952 when Baker was young and still unknown). Claxton, whose jazz imagery has graced the covers of countless albums and magazine covers for over five decades, is considered the preeminent photographer of jazz music. TASCHEN has also published Claxton's Jazz seen and Steve McQueen. The author: In Germany, Joachim E. Berendt was called the "jazz pope", and indeed he was the most influential non-musician in the German jazz scene for more than 50 years. He was founding member of South West German Radio (Sudwestfunk) and produced more than 250 records, including many issued on the MPS-SABA label. In 1953, he first published The Jazzbuch, which became the most successful history book on jazz worldwide. His collection of records, books and jazz documents became the basis for the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt before he died in an accident in 2000. His contributions to jazz are internationally recognized to this day.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful By Robin Benson TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on 18 Mar. 2006
Format: Hardcover
If you were a jazz fan in the Fifties this book will be the ultimate visual memory jogger. It is a huge book, too, weighing in at over fifteen pounds (a bit more with its handy carrying box) and with spreads opening to an impressive twenty-three inches wide by sixteen deep. The 696 beautifully printed pages feature an expanded collection of photos originally taken for the 1961 German book 'Jazz Life' produced by Joachim Berendt and William Claxton.

In four months during 1960 these two motored across the America and it would seem photographed every important jazz musician that mattered and what stunning photos they are. Page after page of folks you have been listening to for years and not just recording studio shots but plenty of informal and location photos. Musicians everywhere get a look in, New Orleans, Kansas, St Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, from ragtime to bop to East and West coast styles. Each area has an essay and all the photos are captioned. Looking through the book for the first time with its huge page size and Claxton's sympathetic jazz camera is a rather awesome experience.

There is a forty-two minute CD with the book (the original German edition had two seven inch LPs) of music recorded by Berendt but I thought it was rather bland in its choice of tracks. Predominately New Orleans traditional and spirituals with a very small sampling of other styles some of which annoyingly fade out before the end. I bet at the time though the music added to the book's success in a still rather war-torn Germany.

'Jazz Life' celebrates a great American music style with photos you can almost hear. I doubt there will be anything as good as this published again.

*A Shorty Rogers tune dedicated to Bill Claxton
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful By Mr. J. E. Periam on 2 Nov. 2008
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Having just read the obituary of William Claxton - I picked up my copy of his Book 'The Jazz Life' - it's size alone is massive and it's contents are well worth every penny I paid for this book. Having been interested in jazz for well over 50 years and having had the privilege of meeting many of the jazz greats in person I thought I had seen most books written on this subject. How wrong could I be. This is certainly one of the best books on the subject of jazz I have read - it's picture quality alone is stunning and it covers all aspects of this great music. Many of the images have been seen before in other publications but to have them presented in such a heavyweight volume makes it a must for all. You will need a strong shelf to hold this book and it is not one to be read at ease sitting in your armchair.
There are several versions of this book but I must say that to dig deep into your pocket and get this edition makes it truly worth while. The enclosed CD with it - although not impressive adds a little more history to it's contents.
In the current economic situation it will be money well spent and will save you a lot more by keeping you in for weeks reading its contents. Put one of your favourite records on in the background - open it's pages and enter the real world of JAZZ - you will not be dissapointed.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com: 6 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Clickin' with Clax* 18 Mar. 2006
By Robin Benson - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover
If you were a jazz fan in the Fifties this book will be the ultimate visual memory jogger. It is a huge book, too, weighing in at over fifteen pounds (a bit more with its handy carrying box) and with spreads opening to an impressive twenty-three inches wide by sixteen deep. The 696 beautifully printed pages feature an expanded collection of photos originally taken for the 1961 German book 'Jazz Life' produced by Joachim Berendt and William Claxton.

In four months during 1960 these two motored across the America and it would seem photographed every important jazz musician that mattered and what stunning photos they are. Page after page of folks you have been listening to for years and not just recording studio shots but plenty of informal and location photos. Musicians everywhere get a look in, New Orleans, Kansas, St Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, from ragtime to bop to East and West coast styles. Each area has an essay and all the photos are captioned. Looking through the book for the first time with its huge page size and Claxton's sympathetic jazz camera is a rather awesome experience.

There is a forty-two minute CD with the book (the original German edition had two seven inch LPs) of music recorded by Berendt but I thought it was rather bland in its choice of tracks. Predominately New Orleans traditional and spirituals with a very small sampling of other styles some of which annoyingly fade out before the end. I bet at the time though the music added to the book's success in a still rather war-torn Germany.

'Jazz Life' celebrates a great American music style with photos you can almost hear. I doubt there will be anything as good as this published again.

*A Shorty Rogers tune dedicated to Bill Claxton

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Art 10 Nov. 2006
By Woodshed - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I just received this enormous book; yes enormous in every way. Both in vision, content, printing and weight. I have plenty of jazz photo books and some earlier collections by Claxton, but this certainly reaches beyond the rest. It reminds me of the work by the great Cartier-Bresson. It is far beyond publicity shots and the compositions are real and echoes what language can never say. I am reminded of the great writer Albert Murray. He delves deep into the entire ouvre of this American art form. The large two page bleed photos are breathtaking. The book is largely b&w which suits me just fine. One seldom comes across such empathy and passion for a subject and at the same time shoots like a painter. This is a bargain at twice the price.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
JazzLife 3 Nov. 2006
By Annamarie Rewal - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover
Gorgeous book. One that I will want to have out and look through over and over. Amazing, you see something different every time you look through it.
Huge book! 21 Feb. 2014
By Emmanuel Onuma - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Get a wheel barrow ready to help you haul this book inside. They call it a coffee table book but don't expect to have room for another book on your coffee table after put this book down. Nice black and white photos of Jazz music and jazz fans in action across the country.

Make no mistake, this book is for anyone who enjoys photographs it isn't just another Jazz book
Jazz Life 17 Nov. 2007
By The Teacher - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Jazz Life is a great book in every senses: Fantastic photographs,very good informative text and wonderful audio CD, besides its weight and its size. Very, very good. Great find.
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