NEWS

James Moody & Friends/March 30 2009 (all photographs ©JOHN ABBOTT)

James Moody & Friends gala at B.B. King's in NYC. My photographs from the concert to benefit The James Moody Scholarship Fund for jazz students at Purchase College. Backstage and performance-here is the PHOTO ALBUM - ALL PHOTOS ©JOHN ABBOTT. Moody, Hank Jones, Randy Brecker, Paquito D'Rivera, Barbara Morrison, Tim Ries, Jon Faddis, Todd Coolman, and a large musical cast were there to celebrate Moody's 84th Birthday.

 

Sonny Rollins in Germany 2008

 On tour with Sonny Rollins and his band for his first three concerts in Germany in Nov/Dec 2008. Frankfurt(Alte Oper), Hamburg(Laeiszhalle), and Berlin(Philharmonie). Shooting more photographic material for my book on Sonny Rollins' biography. Sonny, Clifton Anderson, Bob Cranshaw, Peter Downey, and the whole band welcomed me backstage, sidestage, in the hotels, and on the bus. I didn't want to leave the tour-but I had to get back to New York.  I'll keep you posted on the release of the book. Here is the PHOTO ALBUM from the Germany tour.

McCoy Tyner - June 16, 2008

I spent a glorious afternoon on June 16 photographing McCoy Tyner at the Steinway Piano showroom on 57th Street in NYC. A portrait session for Half Note Records-produced by Jeff Levenson. McCoy was full of life and laughter as he played and talked about music. What a thrill! Here are the photos.

Kennedy Center - March 3, 2007

On March 3, 2007 Kennedy Center presented "Jazz In Our Time" honoring 35 living jazz legends.
I was commissioned to photograph the official group portrait of the honored musicians. Moody, Ornette, Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Dr. Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, the list goes on and on... My camera was very busy all day: portraits, backstage snaps, group hugs, joyous reunions. It was truly a great day in Washington DC. Here is a photo album with some of the evening's highlights.

Jazz Covers - 2006/2007

Jazz Magazine and CD covers since my last entry.
Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Ornette Coleman, Michael Brecker, Richard Bona, and more!

I've been busy during the last 18 months! Check out the photo album.

The Fab Faux - May 30, 2006

Webster Hall in New York City - May 30, 2006...
Went to the show at the last minute and enjoyed every note!
Beatles tribute band extraordinaire!
Will Lee from The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Vivino from Late Night with Conan O'Brien with Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello, and Jack Petruzzelli. Multi-talented, multi-instrumentalists. As their website says: "this is the band to see if you want to know what it might have been like if The Beatles toured behind their later albums"...
Check out my photo album from the concert.

Newport Jazz Festival August 2005

JVC Jazz Festival at Newport-August 13-14. Another weekend of great music.
I couldn't be at all three stages at all times-but I tried. Joe Lovano was everywhere:
on the mainstage with Dave Liebman and on the Pavillion Stage with the great Hank Jones Trio.
Joshua Redman was Elastic with the amazing drummer Jeff Ballard(who also played with Chick Corea).
One highlight for me was a portrait of Dave Brubeck and Wynton Marsalis on stage before
their performance on Sunday. Carly Bley & Lost Chords on Saturday was hip-so were Kurt Rosenwinkel and Bill Frisell. I also managed portraits of McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes, Louis Hayes, George Mraz, Pat Metheny, and the über-trio of Stanley Clarke, Bela Fleck, and Jean Luc-Ponty backstage-in between musical sets. Take a look at all the images - Newport Jazz Festival 2005.

Sonny Rollins-The Man

I had the good fortune of photographing Sonny Rollins for his upcoming CD release:
Without A Song, The 9-11 Concert for the Fantasy/Concord record label.
This was our fifth formal portrait session in twelve years. As usual, Sonny gave his all.
He posed and played for me for about four hours. I brought my dog, Dizzy, to the studio for some shots with Sonny. Check it out. Newk-lear. Colossal. Sonny Rollins-The Man.

Bill Gates/Microsoft Corp.

It was mad fun photographing Bill Gates on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA.
Fortune Magazine sent me out to Seattle for a brief visit with the king.
I had my fifteen minutes and then it was over.
Seattle is a lovely city. I hope to return soon.

James Moody & Friends/April 9, 2005

James Moody's 80th birthday saxophone spectacular!! at Purchase College-The Performing
Arts Center on April 9, 2005. SAXOPHONES: James Moody, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Ralph Lalama, Steve Wilson, Mark Turner, David Brandom, Michael Stewart, Sam Taylor.
RHYTHM SECTION: David Hazeltine, Todd Coolman, Adam Nussbaum. TRUMPET & MUSIC DIRECTOR:
Jon Faddis. Thanks to Laurelyn Douglas & Jimmy Petrozzello. SEE PHOTO ALBUM!