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Brian O'Connor

My Jazz Story

Published on: 2017-04-25

In the fifties I enjoyed latin music. Then in the sixties I heard Stanz Getz and Charlie Byrd with Desafinado. That led me on the path to jazz. Always interested in photography, so in the early '70s I started combining the two. No financial rewards, but immense satisfaction and, thanks to linking up with writer Stan Britt, managed to meet (and photograph) some of my heroes: Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson. Best gigs? Sinatra with Basie at the RFH, London, and Dexter Gordon at Ronnie Scott's. Advice to new photographers? Be polite, obtain permission, remain invisible, and always thank when possible the musicians and venue operators.