There are moments when your lens simply isn't enough, and your eyes blur, overwhelmed by the emotion of the scene. It's in these moments that the profound 'why' behind photographing Jazz becomes abundantly clear. (Photo) NEA Jazz Master Sonny Rollins and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (1926-2020) at The Allen Room, Lincoln Center, NYC. ©2016"

This exact moment is the genesis of my "Three Generations of Jazz" project. It's a single photograph that speaks volumes about the history of Jazz in NYC, showcasing the profound connections between our ancestors, mentors, and current jazz musicians throughout my photographic journey from 1990 to the present. Pictured with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars Big Band are: NEA Jazz Master Frank Wess (1922-2013), NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (1926-2020), Roy Hargrove (1969-2018), John Lee (bass), Mark Gross (saxophone), Antonio Hart (saxophone), and Frank Basile (saxophone). ©2012

Documenting two incredible giants of jazz, NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (1926-2020), backstage at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, was undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments of my career. The energy in that space, capturing such legendary figures, was truly unforgettable. (Photo) NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (1926-2020) backstage at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC. ©2016

Captured in 2016, Terell Stafford during a rehearsal at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C., alongside Jimmy Heath and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, with NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock visible in the background. ©2016

I arrived in NYC in 1990. The times of the "Young Lions", among that group : Christian McBride, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Roy Hargrove (1969-2018), Gregory Hutchinson and Benny Green and somehow me taking photos. Sometimes the silence between notes creates the entire story. NEA JAZZ MASTER RON CARTER AND BENNY GREEN, DIZZY'S COCA COLA, LINCOLN CENTER NY C2012

Captured backstage at The Allen Room, Lincoln Center, on what was a truly joyful day: Jimmy Heath's birthday celebration. We were all there, 35 artists strong, honoring Master Heath. This photo features Jon Faddis. ©2016

NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (1926-2020) backstage at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. This private moment was captured just before he joined NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band on stage. ©2016

This photograph captures a truly significant moment in our contemporary Jazz history, taken at Birdland Jazz Club. It features NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron and NEA Jazz Master Frank Wess (1922-2013). To my knowledge, this is one of very few, if any, photos taken that evening. It was a night I'll never forget; I can still hear it vividly in my memory as if I were there now. ©2011

A recent photo of a long-standing friendship: NEA Jazz Master Christian McBride (b. 1972), the eight-time Grammy-winning bassist, on stage at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem, NYC. This image from 2025 is the latest in a photo history that began with the "Young Lions" era and the Zinc Bar days ©2015

Photographing a Big Band is one of my favorite challenges. It's incredibly demanding and exhausting, yet so thrilling—a continuous dance to follow 16 musicians through their intricate musical conversations and dynamic section interactions. Each performance is uniquely different, offering endless moments and photographic possibilities to capture. Pictured: Christian McBride directing his Big Band at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, NYC. ©2014

A powerful "Trumpet Summit" at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Appel Room in 2016. Trumpeters Freddie Hendrix (b. 1976) and Jon Faddis (b. 1953) performed as part of an all-star big band for the 90th birthday celebration of NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (b. 1926 – d. 2020). ©2016

Nea Jazz Master Ron Carter's Birthday Celebration at the Blue Note, NYC. Featuring Javon Jackson and Roy Hargrove (1969-2018), this image captures Hargrove's last live appearance at the Blue Note ©2017

The late Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018), captured live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during his 2009 tour. This image marks a special moment: our first overseas road trip together as his personal photographer, preserving a unique view of the artist in his element on the global stage. ©2009

A poignant photo from NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter's (b. 1937) birthday celebration at the Blue Note, NYC, in 2017, featuring Russell Malone (b. 1963 - d. 2024) . Malone's recent passing adds a layer of sorrow to this cherished memory. ©2017

A powerful moment from the legendary after-hours scene at Smalls Jazz Club, NYC, in 2017. This image of the late Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018) is a testament to his role in creating that unique period in jazz. I would pick him up and we'd go to the sessions together, where I had the honor of documenting the magic while he was mentoring, preserving these historic nights through my lens. ©2017

GENERATIONS: NEA Jazz Master Albert "Tootie" Heath (b. 1935 - d. 2024), Emmet Cohen (b. 1990), Russell Hall (b. 1994), and Benny Golson (b. 1929 - d. 2024). Photographed at Yamaha Recording Studios, NYC. ©2017

Backstage at the Blue Note NYC, 2017: A historic gathering for NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter's (b. 1937) birthday celebration, featuring Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 - d. 2018), Javon Jackson (b. 1965), Donald Vega (b. 1974) on piano, and Lewis Nash (b. 1958) on drums. ©2017

Captured in 2016, Jon Faddis (b. 1953) and Grammy-nominated Melissa Aldana (b. 1988) join the festivities at the Allen Room, Lincoln Center, honoring NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (b. 1926 - d. 2020) on his birthday

TRUMPET SUMMIT : This was a celebration not only as a show for the public but backstage, it was the birthday celebration of Master Jimmy Heath ( 1926-2020) . We were all there, the Big Band, Sonny Rollins, Slide Hampton, Tootie Heath and all the generations, the three of them form NYC.

Kirk Lightsey (b. 1937 - d. 2022), a highly esteemed pianist particularly known for his bebop and post-bop work, performs at the Detroit Jazz Festival in 2016, a year which also celebrated the 90th birthday of fellow jazz piano legend Randy Weston (b. 1926 - d. 2018). ©2016

Russell Malone (b. 1963 - d. 2024) performing with the NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter Nonet at the Detroit Jazz Festival in 2016. In this photo, NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter (b. 1937) is visible in the background. Russell Malone was Ron Carter's esteemed guitarist for many years, and his recent passing marks a significant loss to the jazz world. ©2016

Nea Jazz Master Lee Konitz (1927-2020) performing at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Tompkins Square, New York City, with Dan Tepfer in the background. This performance honored generations of jazz artists. ©2013

NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron (b. 1943) at the Blue Note Jazz Club, NYC, celebrating the birthday of NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter (b. 1937) in 2018. This photo captures not just the music, but the profound artistry found in the silence between notes, a testament to their deep connection. ©2018

Backstage at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, 2011: NEA Jazz Master Cedar Walton (b. 1934 – d. 2013) and Mulgrew Miller (b. 1955 – d. 2013) share a moment during Walton's performance. A rare glimpse of two piano titans. ©2011

NEA Jazz Master Cedar Walton's (b. 1934 - d. 2013) famous for his dry sense of humor, captured backstage at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola as he holds an umbrella indoors on a rainy night during his show. Todd Barkan (b. 1946) is also in frame. ©2011

A historical photo documenting the beautiful friendship and indelible moment between two jazz legends: NEA Jazz Master Chick Corea (b. 1941 – d. 2021) and NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock (b. 1940), backstage after their celebrated duo piano concert at the Arena Santa Giuliana during the Umbria Jazz Festival in 2013. ©2013

Backstage Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in 2010, featuring a legendary lineup: the iconic NEA Jazz Master Cedar Walton (b. 1934 – d. 2013), joined by Grammy-winning drummer Willie Jones III (b. 1968), dynamic saxophonist Vincent Herring (b. 1964), rock-solid bassist David "Happy" Williams (b. 1946), and innovative trombonist Steve Turre (b. 1948).

A truly historical photo: NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath (b. 1926 – d. 2020) and two-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018) together at the Blue Note during Jimmy Heath's birthday celebration. Taken in 2014, this image captures a profound moment between two legends who have since passed, both of whom performed with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and shaped modern jazz ©2014

Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018) and Cyrus Chestnut (b. 1963) backstage at the Blue Note, NYC. This photo was taken during a performance featuring Roy Hargrove with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, likely around 2015. ©

A rare studio glimpse from 2011 in Brooklyn, featuring Larry Willis (b. 1942 – d. 2019),during a recording for Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018),

A historic gathering of Roy Hargrove's musical family at the legendary Systems Two Recording Studio in 2012. Pictured are drummer Willie Jones III (b. 1968), bassist Dwayne Burno (b. 1970 – d. 2013), saxophonist Justin Robinson (b. 1968), trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018), and pianist Larry Willis (b. 1942 – d. 2019). This photo, as the photographer who documented the "Young Lions" era from the beginning, is a testament to the enduring bonds forged in their shared pursuit of jazz ©2012

A rare studio glimpse from 2011 in Brooklyn, featuring Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018), Larry Willis (b. 1942 – d. 2019), Dwayne Burno (b. 1970 – d. 2013), Justin Robinson (b. 1968), and Willie Jones III (b. 1968) during a recording session. ©2011

One of the most incredible piano concerts I had the privilege of witnessing, captured in 2012 at the 244-year-old Teatro Morlacchi during the Umbria Jazz Festival. The stage was set with four grand pianos for a tribute to Thelonious Monk, featuring the masterful Mulgrew Miller (b. 1955 – d. 2013), Benny Green (b. 1963), NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron (b. 1943), and Eric Reed (b. 1968). The combination of these legends created a moment of pure magic in a truly historic setting. ©2012

A historical photo from the Blue Note in 2014, capturing two giants of the modern jazz generation: the late Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018) and esteemed saxophonist Antonio Hart (b. 1968). Their unique musical interaction, honed through decades of collaboration in bands like the Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmy Heath Big Bands, is a testament to their profound impact on contemporary jazz. As a photographer who had the privilege of capturing the energy of the 'Young Lions' movement from its early days, witnessing their continued evolution through my lens feels like being a lioness in my camera, documenting their raw power and artistry.

A powerful moment at the Blue Note during Ron Carter's (b. 1937) 80th birthday celebration in 2017. Pictured is the late Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018), playing a flugelhorn solo that still sounds in my head—a perfect example of the profound, emotional music he shared with the world.©2017

An intimate portrait of the late Grammy-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove (b. 1969 – d. 2018), captured in 2012 at the legendary Systems Two Recording Studio. This image documents a private moment between musician and photographer, a quiet look into the heart of the artist, revealing the profound spirit and identity that defined his voice in jazz and the profound significance that trumpet piano combination has for me ©2012

A magical image of the profound sound of Jazz Under the Stars , the Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este in 2025. Here, the celebrated Cuban-American pianist Elio Villafranca (b. Cuba), a two-time Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim Fellow, creates a moment where the sound hit my heart, a testament to the power of image and sound. ©2025

A testament to a long-standing friendship and musical partnership: the multi-talented Jon Batiste (b. 1986) and his longtime drummer Joe Saylor (b. 1986), band members of Stay Human. Pictured here at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2015. As the stage photographer for the festival, I had the unique perspective of capturing their powerful energy and deep collaboration on stage. ©2015

NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart (b. 1940) and the acclaimed, multi-Grammy-nominated saxophonist Joshua Redman (b. 1969) on stage at the historic Teatro Morlacchi during the Umbria Jazz Festival in 2013. This powerful collaboration captures two masters from different generations sharing a historic moment at the festival's 40th anniversary. ©2013

Marcus Strickland (b. 1979) and bassist Ben Williams performing with Strickland's Twi-Life band at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2015. This photo documents a dynamic collaboration between two of the most innovative artists in contemporary jazz. ©2015

A portrait of the visionary saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington (b. 1981) during a private photoshoot at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2015. This image captures a pivotal year for the artist, who had just released his critically acclaimed breakthrough album, The Epic. ©2015

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