Jazz: Best of the Apollo, Village Vanguard, and Riverside Sessions

Jazz: Best of the Apollo, Village Vanguard and Riverside Sessions
Authors: Richard Scheinin and Steve Scharpiro

In Jazz: Best of the Apollo, Village Vanguard, and Riverside Sessions, a rarely seen chapter of jazz history comes to life. The legendary photographer Steve Schapiro – globally renowned for his compelling social documentaries from the 1960s – turned his lens to the New York jazz scene early on. Even before his big breakthrough, he captured musicians in clubs, studios, and backstage moments, precisely at the intersection where music, zeitgeist, and personal expression converge.

In the early 60s, jazz experienced a golden age in New York. Schapiro, raised in the Bronx and working as a freelance photographer, gained access to the intimate world of Riverside Records. There, he not only photographed performances but also the moments in between: Sonny Rollins lifting weights backstage, Bobby Timmons engrossed in a sudden musical insight, musicians completely absorbed in their craft. His images exude proximity, respect, and a keen eye for the decisive moment.

The photographs in this coffee table book – largely never before published – feature icons such as Cannonball Adderley, Melba Liston, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, and Count Basie. Together, they form a visual historical document of exceptional value, presenting jazz not as a myth, but as lived reality.

What you can expect:

• An impressive photo archive by Steve Schapiro featuring jazz legends from the early 60s
• Narrative context and interpretation by renowned jazz journalist Richard Scheinin
• Iconic names like Miles Davis, Dorothy Ashby, Bill Evans, and many others, captured in their purest moments
• A foreword by Sonny Rollins, an afterword by Kurt Elling.

About the Author(s)

Richard Scheinin is a leading American jazz journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, GQ, and other national publications. He is a staff writer at SFJAZZ and was the classical and jazz critic for the San Jose Mercury News for over a decade. Scheinin has interviewed and profiled numerous public figures, from Sonny Rollins to the Dalai Lama, and is the author of Field of Screams: The Dark Underside of America’s National Pastime (W.W. Norton).

Steve Schapiro (1934–2022) was one of the most influential American photographers of his generation. He achieved global fame for his photojournalistic coverage of the American Civil Rights Movement, including the March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery marches. He also created iconic portraits and film stills for The Godfather and Taxi Driver, among others. His work is held in collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. In 2017, Schapiro received the Lucie Award for his exceptional contribution to photojournalism.