William Claxton: Jazzlife by William Claxton - 2006: English, French, German

This title is limited to 1,000 individually signed and numbered copies. Every copy comes with four signed and numbered, 50 X 60 cm (19.6 X 23.6 in.) ultrachrome prints. Book and prints packaged in a clothcovered box. Prints included are: William Claxton, "Jazzlife: Print 1 - The Metropole Cafe on Broadway near Times Square, New York City"; William Claxton, "Jazzlife: Print 2 - Stan Getz by a stage door on Cosmo Alley, Hollywood"; William Claxton, "Jazzlife: Print 3 - The George Williams Brass Band, New Orleans"; and, William Claxton, "Jazzlife: Print 4 - Ray Charles with a Raylette, New York City". ln 1959 and 1960, photographer William Claxton and noted German musicologist Joachim Berendt traveled the United States hot on the trail of jazz music. The result of their collaboration was an amazing collection of photographs and recordings of legendary artists as well as unknown street musicians. The book "Jazzlife", the original fruit of their labors, has become a collector's item that is highly treasured among jazz and photography fans. In 2003, Taschen began reassembling this important collection of material - along with many never-before-seen color images from those trips.
They are brought together in this updated volume, which includes a foreword by Claxton tracing his travels with Berendt and his love affair with jazz music in general. Utilizing the benefits of today's digital technology, a restored audio CD from Joachim Berendt's original recordings has been produced and is included in this package. Jazz fans will be delighted to be able to take a jazz-trip through time, both seeing and hearing the music as Claxton and Berendt originally experienced it. This title features photographs of Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, Gabor Szabo, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Charlie Mingus, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and many more. It also includes a bonus CD of digitally remastered recordings of music made during Berendt and Claxton's journey (originally released in 1960 as two records).

In 1960, photographer William Claxton and noted German musicologist Joachim Berendt traveled the United States hot on the trail of jazz music. The result of their collaboration was an amazing collection of photographs and recordings of legendary artists as well as unknown street musicians.

This Art Edition revives the fruit of Claxton and Berendt's labors, Jazzlife, in one exclusive multimedia tribute, abuzz with the energy of jazz as much as the excitement of Claxton and Berendt's original journey. Signed by the artist, the book is accompanied by both a digitally remastered CD from Joachim Berendt's original jazz recordings and a stunning portfolio of four signed ultrachrome prints. Signed by William Claxton, the images capture Ray Charles, Stan Getz, the George Williams Brass Band, and the Metropole Café on Broadway in New York, making for a stunning collection of the faces and places at the forefront of jazz.

Capturing the breadth and depth and beating heart of American jazz like no other photo collection, the book's photographs reach from coast to coast, from New Orleans to New York, from Jackson to St. Louis, and from unknown street performers to legends of the genre, including beautiful portraits of Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, Gabor Szabo, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Charlie Mingus, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and many more. Many of the pictures featured here have never been published before.

Limited Art Edition of 1,000 copies, signed and numbered, each with remastered CD of Berendt's original jazz recordings and four ultrachrome prints, signed by William Claxton:
Metropole Café on Broadway near Times Square, New York City 1960
Stan Getz, by a Stage Door on Cosmo Alley, Hollywood 1956
Ray Charles with a Raylette, New York City, 1960
The George Williams Brass Band, New Orleans, 1960