A Great Day in Harlem: The greatest photo in jazz history

In 1958, rookie photographer Art Kane had an idea to take a huge group photo of as many jazz icons as possible for Esquire magazine.
A street in Harlem was chosen as the location and invitations sent, but no one quite knew who would turn up or how it would all work.
To Art Kane's delight, they did come and it did work - 58 musicians, including many jazz legends, turned up.
The photograph is now considered one of the most iconic in modern music history and has spawned many homages over the years.
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[@Him40451]

This is so iconic ❤

[@adelaferreira4575]

Jazz legends ,fathers and brothers of great music !

[@suzannebruneau5965]

So grateful to be a part of the jazz legacy. My mom was born in Harlem 203 west 131st, and came to Canada with Cab Calloways “Hells a Poppin” Many of these jazz legends influenced Montreals jazz scene.

[@MundiaKamau]

This has made my morning over here in East Africa. Great history. Regards, Michael M. Kamau, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, 6th February 2025.

[@Diananihapa]

Asante sana rafiki yangu.

[@MundiaKamau]

@@Diananihapa Karibu🙂Habari yako?🙂

[@ricothepuppetmaster]

Brilliant moment in history. Every picture has a story. This shows a guarantee for an overdose of great art.

[@Musicismylove888]

Priceless. Literally. 💜🎵💜🎵

[@mozdickson]

Saw Bassie & Band in Auckland, 1979. Bought a new Yamaha Alto same week. ❤

[@ziziroberts8041]

Real history. We're going to lose it. Wake The Hell Up, America.

[@JML-1913]

I worked in a professional print lab back in the 1990's and had the honor of printing, 16x20's sepia colored images of this photo shoot when a documentary film came out. Fun trivia: Kane shoot just 12 pictures - 1 roll of film - there are about 3 of the images that are very popular.

[@mozdickson]

Yep, that's how us B&W era photographers rolled. One scene, bracketed exposures. Done. Crossed fingers. Back to the darkroom.

[@JML-1913]

@@mozdickson Yes that makes sense. Incredibly Art Kane didn't do that - he set the exposure with the help of a hand held light meter and shot the roll, the session with one setting - which btw was spot on and well exposed.

[@kincamell2]

Gratitude.

[@c_cma1971]

🟢 Hello from Bucharest, Romania - a huge underrated city in Europe:)

[@alistairjohnson6061]

This is cool captured in a photo:)!

[@chooselife8527]

Thank you for this piece!

[@duncanbleak3819]

🎶🎷🎹🎺🥁👍🏿👍🏿

[@ayobamimac]

Who’s the guy on the extreme left that got cut out 😮

[@walfrancabr]

So visionaire that statement Absolutely not, the kids stay because they represented the Future!