William Claxton
By Steve Crist
America's preeminent Jazz photographer, William Claxton, who died on Oct. 11 at the age of 80, spent six decades capturing images of countless Hollywood celebrities and nearly every significant jazz musician around.
Memorable Claxton images include a young Charlie Parker in the Claxton home, John Coltrane in the Guggenheim Museum and Art Pepper walking up a steep hill on his release from prison. Claxton's last assignment was a cover portrait of Bob Dylan for the just-released album Tell Tale Signs.
Armed with a camera and a degree in psychology from UCLA, Bill was often hired to work with difficult subjects and was known for coming away with memorable shots and an intact reputation. His pictures allowed viewers an intimate window into typically guarded personalities such as Marlene Dietrich, Chet Baker and Steve McQueen.
While William Claxton's sophisticated eye left an unparalleled photographic legacy, his gracious manner and refreshing lack of ego left an even deeper lasting impression.
Crist was the editor of Claxton's book Jazzlife and is the publisher of AMMO Books in Los Angeles