"A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM" - 65 years ago... August 12, 1958

"A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM"

65 years ago... August 12, 1958

Photograph by Art Kane

Art Kane’s idea to photograph as many of the luminaries of the New York jazz scene as possible together for Esquire’s 1959 Golden Age of Jazz edition began his career as a photographer.

Police closed the road to all but residential traffic, and 57 musicians duly assembled in Harlem at 17 East 126th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenue.

The group included Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Thelonius Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Gerry Mulligan, Mary Lou Williams and Count Basie.

Only Sonny Rollins and Benny Golson are still with us today.