ED BLACKWELL — ONE OF HIS FINAL PERFORMANCES

Radke, James, photographer

Ed Blackwell at the Eddie Moore Festival, Yoshi's, Oakland, 1992 [Original Photograph]

THE BEAT BEHIND THE BREAKTHROUGH—NEW ORLEANS RHYTHMS, NEW JAZZ FRONTIERS.
An original black-and-white performance photograph of jazz drummer Ed Blackwell, taken by James Radke at the Eddie Moore Festival at Yoshi's in Oakland, California, in 1992.

Blackwell is captured at his drum kit, wearing a patterned cap and African-inspired clothing, absorbed in the music. The dramatic contrast of light and shadow gives the photograph an intimate, atmospheric quality.

The performance was recorded for two albums released by Enja Records, What It Is? and What It Be Like?, among Blackwell's final recordings before his death in October 1992.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: ORIGINAL BLACK-AND-WHITE CONCERT PHOTOGRAPH.
+++ Black-and-white photographic print, presented in a cream-colored window mat measuring approximately 18 × 14 inches.
+++ Image: 12 by 8 inches. 
++= The photograph is mounted or secured within the mat, with handwritten identification and photographer's attribution along the lower margin of the backing.

CONDITION: FINE.
The photograph presents well, with strong contrast and no obvious significant image damage visible in the supplied photographs. The surrounding mat shows light handling and age-related wear.

The bluish reflection visible in the upper right of the listing photograph is glare from photographing the object and is not a feature of the original print.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE — A JAZZ MASTER'S FINAL CHAPTER.
Ed Blackwell (1929–1992) brought the rhythms of his native New Orleans into the emerging free jazz movement, developing a distinctive style that combined parade-band traditions, African polyrhythms, and adventurous improvisation. Best known for his collaborations with Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry, Blackwell became one of the most influential drummers in modern jazz.

A HISTORIC PERFORMANCE AT YOSHI'S.
On August 8, 1992, Blackwell performed at the third annual Eddie Moore Festival with Carlos Ward, Graham Haynes, and Mark Helias. The concert was recorded for the Enja albums What It Is? (1993) and What It Be Like? (1994).

Despite serious illness, Blackwell delivered a memorable performance just two months before his death. Radke's photograph captures the drummer during this final period of his remarkable career.

GENRES: Original Photographs; Jazz Photography; Concert Photography; Music Memorabilia; Documentary Photography; Twentieth-Century Photography

SUBJECTS: Ed Blackwell; James Radke; Eddie Moore Festival; Yoshi's Jazz Club; Oakland California; Free Jazz; Avant-Garde Jazz; Jazz Drummers; African American Music; Enja Records; Jazz Photography; 1992 Concerts

Item #22585

Price: $125.00