|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Straight No Chaser + Maverik Showroom Collaboration
The Chaser Years The Photographic Art of Pete Williams
12th - 20th November 2010 (11th Nov. Private View)
THE CHASER YEARS: The Photographic Art Of Pete Williams is the first event in the build up to a major exhibition, in the summer of 2011, that will unleash the Interplanetary: Ancient to Future vision of Straight No Chaser magazine.
This excellent show is synchronized with the London 's International Jazz Festival and is devoted to Pete's deeply resonant, powerful and spiritually infused portraits which are grounded in global club culture but stem from this thing called “Jazz!”
Pete Williams is an artist. He has produced impressive bodies of work for Far Out records and MELT/B&W but he is internationally renowned for the iconic images he produced for Straight No Chaser.
For over two decades he worked closely with Chaser, editor and publisher, Paul Bradshaw, and the commissions he took on mirrored Straight No Chaser’s uncompromising musical vision. Working predominantly in black & white his work is part of a lineage that includes seminal jazz photographers like Herman Leonard and William Claxton.
Back in 1988, Pete had just finished studying photography at the Royal College of Art and we had just launched our “designer fanzine” - dedicated Thelonious Monk and committed to “The Freedom Principle”. He became an integral member of Straight No Chaser’ worldwide family and still maintains a unique working relationship with Paul Bradshaw and Chaser art director - Ian ‘Swifty’ Swift.
This powerful collection imcludes images of nu-generation dons like DJ Shadow, Reprazent, Sizzla, Soweto Kinch, The Roots, Courtney Pine and Cassandra Wilson alongside spiritual jazz legends like Don Cherry, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Yusef Lateef, Steve Reid and Nina Simone.
On the global tip there are outstanding portraits of Brasilian songbird Flora Purim, Mali’s majestic Oumou Sangare, the late great Maskanda queen Busi Mhlongo and that former Brazilian Minister for Culture - Gilberto Gil.
There’s humour and humanity in these shots. Pete’s show is, without doubt, one of the highlights of this year’s London International Jazz Festival. Don't sleep on it!!
VENUE: The Maverik Showroom, 68-72 Redchurch Street. London E2 7DP
12th-20th November 2010
Weekday Opening times: 12 – 6pm. Weekend Opening times: 12 – 4pm
For more info angelo@maverikagency.com or Paul Bradshaw - pb.straightnochaser@gmail.com
|
|
Words: Paul Brad
Pictures: Pete Williams |
|
|
|
|
|
|
