A great day in Harlem is one of the most iconic photographs in the world of jazz. It was made by Art Kane on August 12, 1958 in New York, and gathers fifty-seven legendary jazz musicians, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie or Charles Mingus, in an informal setting in front of a building of apartments in Harlem. The image reflects the strength of the jazz scene at the time and was published in Esquire magazine.
Art Kane (1925-1995) is one of the great names in American photography, especially recognized for his work with jazz and rock musicians. He was born in New York and began his career as a photography director in fashion magazines. However, he gained fame and admiration for his work in the field of music, photographing Louis Armstrong in the desert and without his inseparable trumpet or the Who asleep under a monument sheltered by the English flag. Kane stood out for his ability to connect with the models in his photos, as he managed to make the musicians appear spontaneous, intimate and transcendent at the same time. He was a visual narrator capable of immortalizing the rhythm of music through his camera. In addition to his collaborations with jazz musicians, Kane worked with rock stars such as the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan or Jim Morrison, with reports for major magazines around the world and also compositions for on album covers and other promotional images. His ability to capture the essence of artists and his contribution to the aesthetic evolution of the photographic portrait made him a reference in his field, with an importance that transcended the pages of magazines and also made him a popular culture icon. His work is part of the permanent collections of major American museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, and his photographs continue to be a source of study for photographers and music lovers.
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