M. Lea Rudee San Diego Jazz Photographs

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2005
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu


Descriptive Summary

Languages: English
Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: M. Lea Rudee San Diego Jazz Photographs
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0071
Physical Description: 2 Linear feet (24 matted photographs in one flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1981-1991
Abstract: A collection of twenty-four black and white photographs (1981-1991) taken of jazz performers in concert in San Diego by M. Lea Rudee.

Scope and Content of Collection

These photographs were all taken during live performances of jazz in San Diego. A few were taken in night clubs. Most were taken at performances of either the San Diego Jazz Festival, when I served on its board of directors, or the Jazz Society of Lower Southern California. This latter organization held private performances in members homes or other private venues and organized fund raising events to provide scholarships for the jazz program in the UCSD Music Department. Unfortunately, both organizations are now dormant. The performers in these photographs include both local and visiting artists.
Photography and jazz have some artistic elements in common. Of all musical forms, jazz places the highest emphasis on instantaneous, intuitive improvision by the performer within a predetermined musical context. Photographs can be "made" in highly controlled circumstances, e.g. an advertising shoot, or the self-portraits by Cindy Sherman. In another form, the photographer "takes" a picture by instantaneously arranging images within the viewfinder, accepting what is seen rather than directing. Henri Cartier-Bresson, the great master of this latter form of photography, described the camera used in this manner as "an instrument of intuition," a term that could just as well apply to the jazz soloist.
-- M. Lea Rudee

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Preferred Citation

M. Lea Rudee San Diego Jazz Photographs, MSS 71. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Acquisition Information

Acquired 1994.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Jazz musicians -- Portraits
Photographic prints -- 1980-1989
Jazz -- Pictorial works
Photographic prints -- 1990-1999
Rollins, Sonny
Pepper, Art, 1925-1982
Redd, Vi
McPherson, Charles
McShann, Jay
Marsalis, Wynton, 1961-
McFerrin, Bobby
Lytle, Cecil
Lake, Oliver
Lettau, Kevyn
Jordan, Stanley
Kessel, Barney
James, Ella
Jones, Thad
Cheatham, Jeannie
Cheatham, Jimmy
Hollis, Gentry
Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990
Brubeck, Dave
Braxton, Anthony
Carter, Betty, 1930-1998
Calloway, Cab, 1907-1994
Bowie, Lester
Biggs, Gunnar

 

PHOTOGRAPHS

Oversize FB-551, Folder 01

Lytle, Cecil 1982

Oversize FB-551, Folder 02

McPherson, Charles 1982

Oversize FB-551, Folder 03

Cheatham, Jimmy 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 04

Marsalis, Wynton 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 05

Pepper, Art 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 06

Gentry, Hollis 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 07

Cheatham, Jeannie 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 08

Calloway, Cab and Cheatham, Jeannie 1984

Oversize FB-551, Folder 09

Kessel, Barney 1991

Oversize FB-551, Folder 10

Brubeck, Dave 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 11

Biggs, Gunnar 1982

Oversize FB-551, Folder 12

Gordon, Dexter 1981

Oversize FB-551, Folder 13

Jones, Thad 1982

Oversize FB-551, Folder 14

Lettau, Kevyn 1991

Oversize FB-551, Folder 15

Lake, Oliver 1984

Oversize FB-551, Folder 16

Carter, Betty 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 17

Rollins, Sonny 1983

Oversize FB-551, Folder 18

Redd, Vi 1985

Oversize FB-551, Folder 19

McFerrin, Bobby 1982

Oversize FB-551, Folder 20

Braxton, Anthony 1985

Oversize FB-551, Folder 21

Bowie, Lester 1989

Oversize FB-551, Folder 22

Jordan, Stanley 1986

Oversize FB-551, Folder 23

McShann, Jay 1986

Oversize FB-551, Folder 24

James, Etta 1981