Jazz Photography

Hinton, Milt & David Berger

Bass Line; The Stories and Photographs of Milt Hinton [Signed with Drawing] [Jazz History]

Temple University Press, Philadelphia:, 1988. First Edition, First Printing.
A monumental fusion of jazz autobiography and social documentary. Milt 'The Judge' Hinton, the most recorded bassist in jazz history, provides a sophisticated firsthand account of his five-decade journey through the American musical landscape. 

The narrative moves from his early years in Vicksburg, Mississippi, through the Southside Chicago scene, to the pinnacle of the New York jazz world. Uniquely, Hinton was as prolific with his Leica as he was with his bass; this volume is renowned for its intimate, behind-the-scenes photographs of jazz legends—Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, and Count Basie—captured from the perspective of a fellow performer.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
+++ Signed boldly in pencil on the half-title or title page with a personal inscription and a charming original drawing of a double bass by Milt Hinton.
+++ Illustrated with nearly 200 of Hinton's candid photographs, widely considered the most important visual record of 'life on the road' during the Big Band and Bebop eras.
+++ Content: Co-authored by David Berger; includes a comprehensive discography and index of jazz performers.
+++ Format: Heavy quarto format designed to showcase the high-fidelity photographic reproductions.

CONDITION: Fine / Near Fine. The book is pristine with no flaws or blemishes; the binding is tight and the text block is crisp. The dust jacket is remarkably fresh, showing only the most minimal shelf handling at the extremities. Truly gift quality and a superior specimen for a music or photography collection.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY: THE JUDGE AND HIS LEICA CAMERA ---
Milt Hinton’s Bass Line is a primary source for the study of 20th-century African American history and musical evolution. Hinton’s dual role as a master musician and a chronicler allowed him to document the 'Double V' era—victory at home and abroad—and the racial complexities of touring in a segregated America.

His photographs are not mere snapshots; they are ethnographic studies of the jazz subculture. His nickname, 'The Judge,' reflected his impeccable timing and moral authority, both of which are evident in his clear-eyed, unsentimental prose.

Subjects: Milt Hinton, Jazz Bassists, African American Musicians, Jazz Photography, Vicksburg MS History, Chicago Southside Jazz, New York Music Scene, Big Band Era, Autobiography, Photography Monograph, Music History, Signed First Edition.

Item #21674
ISBN: 0877225184

Price: $125.00