Photographic prints taken by photographer William Claxton (October 12, 1927-October 11, 2008) of jazz musicians.
Scope and Contents:
Collection consists of twenty-eight photographic prints processed in 1999 by a professional laboratory for photographer William Claxton. The prints document jazz artists in recording sessions and performing throughout the United States. It is divided into two series: Series 1, Duke Ellington, 1955-1960, and Series 2, Other Artists, 1955-1970.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into two series.
Series 1: Duke Ellington, 1955-1960
Series 2: Other Artists, 1951-1970
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Duke Ellington Collection, NMAH.AC.0301
William H. Quealy Collection of Duke Ellington Recordings, NMAH.AC.0296
Duke Ellington Oral History Project, NMAH.AC.0368
Billy Strayhorn Ephemera Collection, NMAH.AC.0383
Collection of Duke Ellington Ephemera and Related Audio-visual Materials, NMAH.AC.0386
Robert Udkoff Collection of Duke Ellington Ephemera, NMAH.AC.0388
Frank Driggs Collection of Duke Ellington Photographic Reference Prints, NMAH.AC.0389
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, NMAH.AC.O390
Felix Grant Collection, NMAH.AC.0410
Carter Harman Collection of Interviews with Duke Ellington, NMAH.AC.0422
Archives Center Collection of Music Transcriptions of Duke Ellington Compositions, Carter Harman NMAH.AC.0430
Jazz Oral History Collection about Duke Ellington, NMAH.AC.0431
Herman Leonard Photoprints, NMAH.AC.0445
Don Brown Collection of Duke Ellington Recordings, NMAH.AC.0472
Betty McGettigan Collection of Duke Ellington Memorabilia, NMAH.AC.0494
Dr. Theodore Shell Collection of Duke Ellington Ephemera, NMAH.AC.0502
Jay McCarter Phonograph Record Collection, NMAH.AC.0541
Tom Whaley Collection, NMAH.AC.0652
Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials, NMAH.AC.0704
Andrew Homzy Collection of Duke Ellington Stock Arrangements, NMAH.AC.0740
John Gensel Collection of Duke Ellington Materials, NMAH.AC.0763
W. Royal Stokes Collection of Music Publicity Photoprints, Interviews and Posters, NMAH.AC.0766
Milt Gabler Papers, NMAH.AC.0849
Paquito D'Rivera Music Manuscripts and Photograph, NMAH.AC.0891
Charismic Productions Records of Dizzy Gillespie, NMAH.AC.0979
Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection, NMAH.AC.1222
Al Celley Collection of Duke Ellington Materials, NMAH.AC.1240
James Moody Papers, NMAH.AC.1405
Provenance:
The National Museum of American History purchased the collection on March 31, 1999.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Rights:
Copyright restrictions. Contact staff for information.
Topic:
Musicians -- 1950-1960 -- United States Search this
Collection consists of photographic prints from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists.
Scope and Contents:
Twenty-five silver gelatin photographic prints (on fiber-based paper, 20" x 16") from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists. Descriptions of prints supplied by the donor, Michael Cuscuna.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into one series.
Series 1: Photoprints, 1953-1966
Biographical / Historical:
Wolff (born 1907 or 1908 in Berlin, Germany, died March 8, 1971 in New York City) was a record company executive, photographer and record producer. After a career as a commercial photographer in Germany, Wolff emigrated to the United States in 1939. In New York his childhood friend Alfred Lion, had co-founded Blue Note Records in the same year, and Wolff joined Lion in running the company. During Lion's war service, Wolff worked for Milt Gabler at the Commodore Music Store, and together they maintained the company's catalog until Lion was discharged. Until Lion retired in 1967, Wolff concentrated on the financial affairs of the business and only supervised occasional recording sessions produced during his visits to Europe. For the last four years of his life, when Blue Note was no longer an independent label, Wolff shared production responsibilities with pianist and arranger Duke Pearson. Wolff took photographs during the recordings sessions, usually shot during session rehearsals, throughout the period of Lion's involvement in Blue Note Records. They were used on publicity material and LP album sleeves, and have continued to be used in CD reissue booklets. [Redacted from Wikipedia entry.]
Provenance:
Gift of Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Images, June 3, 2011.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Michael Cuscuna retains copyright. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
John Coltrane and Lee Morgan at Coltrane's September 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Radio program, Voice of America Jazz Hour, presents all four parts of A Love Supreme by John Coltrane. End of recording includes a portion of Take The "A" Train by Duke Ellington.
Music. Part of Broadcast Programs. Undated.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003646-2
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Syeeda's song flute.--Aisha.--Countdown.--Mr. Knight.--My shining hour.--Blues to Bechet.--The invisible.--My favorite things.--Giant steps.--Central Park West.--Like Sonny.--Body and soul.
Track Information:
101 Syeeda's Song Flute / Saxophone.
102 Aisha / Saxophone.
103 Countdown / Saxophone.
201 Mr. Knight / Saxophone.
202 My Shining Hour / Saxophone.
203 Blues to Bechet / Saxophone.
301 The Invisible / Saxophone.
302 My Favorite Things / Saxophone.
401 Giant Steps / Saxophone.
402 Central Park West / Saxophone.
403 Like Sonny / Saxophone.
404 Body and Soul / Saxophone.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-0238
Atlantic.313
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Atlantic
General:
In container. Durations, list of personnel, and program notes by Martin Williams on container. Performer(s): Jazz quartets and sextet; featuring John Coltrane, saxophones, with various instrumentalists. Production notes: Recorded 1959-1961.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Ruby, my dear (6 min., 17 sec.) --Trinkle, tinkle (6 min., 37 sec.) --Nutty (6 min., 35 sec.) --Well, you needn't (11 min., 24 sec.) --Off minor (alternate) (5 min., 10 sec.) --Off minor (5 min., 06 sec.)--Epistrophy (1 min., 45 sec.) --Epistrophy (10 min., 45 sec.) --Crepescule with Nellie (4 min., 37 sec.) -- Abide with me (51 sec.) --Monk's mood (7 min., 51 sec.) -- Blues for tomorrow (13 min., 30 sec.).
Track Information:
101 Ruby, My Dear / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk.
102 Trinkle, Tinkle / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk.
103 Nutty / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk.
201 Well, You Needn't / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
202 Off Minor (alternate master) / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
203 Off Minor (original master) / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
301 Epistrophy (fragment) / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
302 Epistrophy / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
303 Crepescule with Nellie / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
304 Abide with Me / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins.
401 Monk's Mood / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk.
402 Blues for Tomorrow / John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk.
Local Numbers:
FW-ASCH-LP-0808
Milestone.47011
Publication, Distribution, Etc. (Imprint):
Milestone 1973
General:
Program notes in English by Grover Sales and Orrin Keepnews, and durations on container. Performer(s): Jazz; Thelonious Monk, piano ; John Coltrane, tenor sax ; Wilbur Ware, bass ; Shadow Wilson, drums ; Ray Copeland, trumpet ; Gigi Gryce, alto sax ; Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax ; Art Blakey, drums. Production notes: Recorded 1957-1958.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. No duplication allowed listening and viewing for research purposes only.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
The original manuscript for Coltrane's compositionA Love Supreme.
Scope and Contents:
The music manuscript is the original 1964 manuscript of A Love Supreme, a work that exalts the greatness, power, and love of God. The collection includes handwritten music, doodles, lyrics, and notes. A Love Supreme is thought to be one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.
Biographical / Historical:
John Coltrane was born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. Surrounded and influenced by music from a young age, Coltrane trained in Philadelphia at Granoff Studios and the Ornstein School of Music. He went on to play in the U.S. Navy Band when he was called to military service during World War II.
When the war was over, Coltrane played with the likes of Jimmy Heath, the Eddie "CleanHead" Vinson Band, and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1958, he joined the Miles Davis Quintet and became famous for his three-on-one chord approach and "sheets of sound," a method of playing multiple notes a one time.
Coltrane formed his own quartet by 1960 with pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and bassist Jimmy Garrison. It was with this group that he created his famous A Love Supreme, a work that discusses the greatness, power, and love of God. Coltrane believed that everyone should contribute positively to the world, and his way of doing so was creating positive thought patterns through his music.
Coltrane accumulated much recognition throughout his career, including a posthumous 1982 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Solo Performance for "Bye Bye Blackbird" and the organization's esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1995, he was honored by the United States Postal Service with a commemorative postage stamp. He also has a street named on the Universal Studios lot in his honor. Coltrane's former home has been turned into a National Historic Landmark to commemorate his influence on American culture.
Coltrane died of liver disease in July 1967. His music is still heard today in various avenues of popular culture, including movies and television shows. Coltrane and his wife Alice had one child, Ravi, a prominent jazz saxophonist.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center
William Claxton Photographs, 1955-1960 (NMAH.AC.0695)
Audrey Wells "Women in Jazz" Radio Series, 1981-1982 (NMAH.AC.0899)
Provenance:
Collection purchased at auction, 2005.
Restrictions:
Copy available for general research use. Original manuscript available by special request.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Music -- 20th century -- United States Search this
Copy available for general research use. Original manuscript available by special request.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
John Coltrane Music Manuscript, 1964, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
The collection consists of twenty-five inkjet prints from original film negatives of John Coltrane and others. The majority of the photographs were taken by Stewart during the December 10, 1964 recording of Coltrane's biggest hit, "A Love Supreme". Some of the images include Coltrane's wife, Alice Coltrane, and others include musicians Pharoah Sanders, Rashied Ali, and Jimmy Garrison.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged into one series.
Biographical / Historical:
Stewart is a jazz photographer, known for photographing portraits used for album and CD covers.
General:
John Coltrane was a jazz saxophonist and composer.
Provenance:
Donated to the Archives Center in 2014 by Chuck Stewart.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Permission and licensing requests must be secured from Kim Stewart. See repository for further details.
Topic:
Jazz musicians -- 1960-1970 -- United States Search this
