Jazz in London: Photographs By Walter Hanlon Opens at National Portrait Gallery
By Ryan • Feb 18th, 2008 • Category: News for Creatives (archives), Photography“LONDON.-To mark the National Portrait Gallery’s recent acquisition of a selection of photographs by Walter Hanlon, this display brings together his atmospheric portraits of the jazz scene in London in the 1950s. Including portraits of the most popular UK and US players of the period – amongst them Sir John ‘Johnny’ Dankworth, Humphrey Lyttelton and Cab Calloway – the display opens in advance of the publication of Walter Hanlon’s book, 1950s Jazz in London and Paris (Tempus, February 2008, £15.99).
One of the key venues in the 1950s was the ‘London Jazz Club’ at 100 Oxford Street, renamed the ‘100 Club’ in the 1960s to encompass a broader musical remit. Originally a restaurant, live music was first played at this venue by Victor Feldman and his band in 1942. American servicemen, some who were well known jazz musicians, such as Glenn Miller, visited the club and its reputation grew during the war. In 1948, the club was renamed the London Jazz Club and later in the 1950s, was briefly known as ‘The Humphrey Lyttelton club’. In 1952, Walter Hanlon staged an exhibition of his work at the London Jazz Club, and this display includes photographs of the private view in full swing, as well as portraits of some of the many artists that performed at the club, including Wally Fawkes, Steve Race and Joe Harriott.
Elsewhere in the display, Walter Hanlon is shown giving photography tips to Cab Calloway of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ fame, Annie Ross, the sultry singer and actress described by Kenneth Tynan as ‘a thoughtful girl who has led a fairly wild life’, is photographed by candlelight and Humphrey Lyttelton, the jazz musician, bandleader, broadcaster and journalist is depicted in a complex silhouette, framed by a collection of his instruments.”
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