Jazz stars of the 1940s

The 1940s were a time of massive change in the jazz world. And that was most notable in New York City, where journalist/photographer William P. Gottlieb captured some of the most brilliant jazz stars of the time in their element. In this photo gallery above, we see some of the finest talents of jazz, during their most creative periods. Singer Ella Fitzgerald had been on of the most dynamic singers in jazz and was a young veteran when this photo was taken of her and Dizzy Gillespie (with his big band) and the Onyx nightclub in 1947. Also, in 1947, we see a well-tailored Coleman Hawkins, the father of the tenor saxophone, also playing at the Onyx. 

Duke Ellington (second to left) and Ahmet Ertegun (far left), 1939

Hawkins had just returned to America after an extensive stint in Europe, when this photo was taken. Jazz legend Thelonious Monk is seen here with trumpeter Howard McGhee at the Three Deuces nightclub in 1948. Monk was still an unknown at this point, but he had already composed many of his jazz standards by this time. Also, Louis Jordan is seen here in 1946 at the Decca studios in New York. Jordan, while a jazz artist, was also known as one of the fathers of rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Finally, we see Charlie Parker and a very young Miles Davis at the Three Deuces in 1947. Miles had just joined Bird’s quintet when this photo was taken.