Embedded Files
Esther Bubley was the photographer at the Norman Granz, Jam Session recording in 1952. What is really remarkable about this series of photographs is that they show Charlie in a variety of moods: attentive, jovial, exhausted, nervous, and most of all, respectful towards Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter, both of whom were Charlie's idols. Barney Kessel said, "The odd thing, I felt more warmth and receptivity from Charlie Parker towards the others than they did to him. [...] He was younger and he learned from them. They didn't learn from him, they'd already left him a legacy; they were already established people before he'd even picked up a horn. He openly admired them". Esther Bubley's document of this session is genuinely unique for the photographs not only capture Charlie in the creative process, but are linked to one moment in time.
These photographs are available in her book Charlie Parker, published in France by Editions Fillipacci, 1995.
Permission to display these pictures has been generously granted by Jean Bubley (c)2005
Ester Bubley in the news - May 6 2011
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