Main content
A Great Day in Harlem: The story behind the iconic jazz photo
In 1958, aspiring photographer Art Kane captured 57 jazz legends in one immortal image.
It's 65 years since aspiring photographer Art Kane persuaded 58 of the biggest names in jazz, including Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk to line up for a photo outside a townhouse in Harlem.
The resulting photo officially called Harlem 58 became known as 'A Great Day in Harlem' and appeared in Esquire magazine's Golden Age of Jazz edition.
But making it wasn't easy. Jonathan Kane, Art Kane's son, tells Vicky Farncombe the obstacles his late father had to overcome to create the iconic image.
(Photo: Harlem 58. Credit: Art Kane)
Last on
Wed 14 Jun 2023
02:50GMT
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Tue 13 Jun 2023 07:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Tue 13 Jun 2023 11:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Tue 13 Jun 2023 17:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Tue 13 Jun 2023 21:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Wed 14 Jun 2023 02:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
Featured in...
![]()
Music history—Witness History
Listen to and download our programmes
Podcast
-
![]()
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there
