Opening Celebration - Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection

Join us for an inspiring evening of art and community at the opening celebration of Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection – a stunning visual tribute to the legends of jazz, their legacy, and cultural impact. This exhibition features 33 iconic black-and-white photographs by 15 renowned photographers, dating primarily from the 1920s to the 1980s. Nearly all of the images are gelatin silver prints made from negative film, known for their exceptional depth and clarity—qualities rarely matched by digital photography.

Take a journey back to the golden age of jazz, a genre created by African American musicians. These photographs capture legendary figures from the uniquely American art forms of jazz and modern dance, as well as scenes from vibrant neighborhood venues where the music lived and thrived.

Event Schedule

• Braxton Bateman, Jazz Musician
• 7:00 pm - Panel discussion featuring Jennifer Brown, Curator, Bank of America and Mark Anthony Neal, Ph.D., James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of African and African American Studies, Duke University

Presented through the Bank of America Art in Our Communities® program, Jazz Greats is part of the company’s ongoing effort to share its art collection with the public and support cultural institutions nationally. Through this program, arts institutions can borrow complete exhibitions at no cost, underscoring Bank of America's commitment to increasing access to cultural resources.

Summary thumbnail image credit: William Gottlieb (American, 1917–2006), Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Milt (Milton) Jackson, and Timmie Rosenkrantz, Downbeat, New York, N.Y., 1947, Gelatin silver print, Bank of America Collection.