Overview
Cultural Writing. Music. The Jazz Photographs by Charles L. Robinson; Poetic Takes and Riffs by Al Young. JAZZ IDIOM showcases the intimate photography of Charles L. Robinson. A friend to many of the jazz musicians photographed, he often caught them in moments of candor: Charles Mingus, goateed and pensive, hunched over a Steinway, phrases dancing in his head. The legendary Earl "Fatha" Hines, in the groove, the original cool cat in sunglasses, famous for breaking piano strings. We see Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rushing backstage, talking about sometime back in the day. We see Milt Jackson and Dizzy Gillespie sharing a joke. California Poet Laureate Al Young riffs, scats, and bebops along with the photographs as he provides poetry, anecdotes, and insight into the players and moments in question. A beautiful medley of music, photography, and poetry, JAZZ IDIOM pays homage to one of the most exciting times in American music history.