“Such Sweet Thunder” — a boxed portfolio of classic jazz photographs by Herb Snitzer

November 4th, 2014

I received an email yesterday from noted photographer (and friend) Herb Snitzer, who is announcing the distribution of “Such Sweet Thunder,” a boxed portfolio containing 10 of his finest iconic photographs. The collection of 16″ x 20″ silver gelatin prints includes photographs of artists like Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. Snitzer wrote that this portfolio is “a wonderful investment for children and grandchildren as the value increases with each passing year.” Originally valued at $1500, the collection is now worth $3500 — $350 per image.

To reach Herb by telephone, his number is 727.692.7646
His email address is: [email protected]

The photos in the collection are shown here:

Count Basie

Louis Armstrong

Nina Simone

Miles Davis

John Coltrane

Eddie Jones (taken at a Count Basie recording session)

Dizzy Gillespie

Lester Young

Thelonious Monk and Charlie Rouse

Jimmy Rushing

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Herb Snitzer was born in 1932 and grew up in Philadelphia. After graduating from the Philadelphia College of Art in 1957, he moved to New York City, where he quickly established himself as a busy photojournalist. In 1959 Snitzer became the photography editor of Metronome, then associate editor until 1961. During what proved to be a twenty-year break in his photography career, he earned a master’s degree in education and worked in that field. The jazz world beckoned once again in 1986, when Snitzer’s friend of many years, singer-pianist Nina Simone, asked him to accompany her to Switzerland and document several of her concerts. In the 1990s Snitzer moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, and opened a studio for fine-art photography. His work is displayed in galleries and museums throughout the country, and he has authored five books on music and education. His most recent book, Jazz: A Visual Journey, contains the best of his jazz photography.

(Description from The Jazz Image:  Masters of Jazz Photography, by Lee Tanner)

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Masters of Jazz Photography — Herb Snitzer

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