TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
On a summer morning in 1958, photographer Art Kane brought together 77 jazz musicians for the legendary photo A Great Day in Harlem.
Imagine that stoop: Count Basie playfully sitting on the curb with neighborhood kids, Thelonious Monk standing proudly in his trademark hat, Dizzy Gillespie flashing his famous grin, and Sonny Rollins, still in his twenties, blending in among the giants.
The photograph captures an extraordinary cross-section of jazz: older masters shoulder to shoulder with young innovators. Together, they embodied the spirit of jazz: community, creativity, and resilience.
Every face tells a story, every posture hints at personality. The image reminds us of jazz’s collaborative spirit, its roots in community, and its enduring impact on culture.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and South Carolina Public Radio, made possible by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.