Charles Peterson entered the jazz world of New York as a guitarist but made his true contribution documenting an era and its most notable performers. A photographer whose images captured the passion and intensity of his subjects, Peterson took up the camera in the mid-1930s and transformed himself from a performer on stage to a visual recorder and observer of the stage. Creating a photographic style that combines artistic sensibility and technical skill, he became a preeminent New York jazz photographer of the pre-bebop, small combos and Big Band era. A deep love of jazz led Peterson to the legendary clubs of Harlem, 52nd Street, and Greenwich Village; concert halls and ballrooms; jam sessions; recording studios; backstage get-togethers; and private parties. As a jazz scene insider, Peterson had access to all of these formal and informal venues and was often recommended to shoot special events by musicians, record producers, and club owners because, as Eddie Condon once noted, "he knows how to handle musicians. He won't bother them when he shouldn't bother them and he'll get what you want." And he did. Among the countless subjects he enshrined on film are Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Zutty Singleton, Fats Waller, Mildred Bailey, Cab Calloway, Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, and Jack Teagarden. Peterson's photographs expose a startling contrast between integrated bandstands and audiences and the segregated world, and reveal the determination of those who refused to be confined by such oppressive conventions of the time. They depict musicianship and camaraderie, dancing, and technical innovation, as well as the harsh contrast of an all-too-pervasive alcoholism that interrupted the lives of many in that New York scene. Jazz historian and critic W. Royal Stokes provides commentary, historical and biographical information, and lively anecdotes that connect the musicians featured in Peterson's photographs to each other and to the music within the social world of jazz. Don Peterson, the son of Charles Peterson, restored the 229 photographs included here from his father's original negatives. More than half have never been published, while many others have not been seen in print since the 1940s. This striking collection represents a historical document of a city and an era that brought the great jazz and swing musicians of the time to the height of success and solidified their reputations. This volume offers a compilation of photographs taken in New York City between 1935 and 1951 by Peterson, who began his career as a jazz guitarist and later became a professional photographer. The clear and well-composed pictures demonstrate his keen eye for capturing the camaraderie and intensity of the New York jazz scene. Among the more interesting subjects are the images of racial integration of the jazz scene, at a time when segregation was still prominent in society. Jazz critic/historian Stokes provides adequate background information, and the book is well indexed. Jazz aficionados and scholars alike will find much to study and appreciate. Recommended for large public collections and academic collections. Ronald S. Russ, Brooklyn P.L. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. Jazz guitarist Peterson provides the classic photos which are the focus of this history, while jazz critic Stokes adds his commentary and historical background. The excellent-quality vintage black and white shots thus serve as a foundation for recording the rise of the swing era of jazz in New York City, and promise to attract avid jazz buffs with a special interest in the era. Swing Era New York is a "must have" addition to any serious jazz collection. -- Midwest Book Review An intimate look at the teeming world of New York Swing in the '20s and '30s "W. Royal Stokes['s]...text is much more than captions; it's a richly detailed commentary that embraces notation, anecdote and overview...Jazz has had a number of distinctive photographers...Peterson clearly belongs in their company." —Washington Post "A compact yet sumptuous volume, it's one of the finest collections of its kind—unexpectedly so, because while a handful of these pictures are classics, most have not been seen in half a century." —Village Voice "Once again, Royal Stokes does it." —Bill Cosby "No one is more qualified than W. Royal Stokes to write an overview of the swing era in New York. It is the definitive work on the subject, informative, exciting, and vastly entertaining." —Mel Tormé "A great book—Charles Peterson's memorable photos and Royal Stokes' comments and quotes help bring back the feeling of excitement and discovery I experienced when I first heard the great jazz masters of the 1920s and 1930s." —Billy Taylor I saw it, lived it, Charles Peterson captured it. His visual imagery of the swing era in New York is authentic, intimate, and filled with emotion." —Milt "Judge" Hinton W. Royal Stokes, editor of Jazz Notes, has severed as Jaz