From the Artist
The concept of this print was based on a time back in the fifties when I was living in New York City and hanging in jazz clubs in Greenwich Village where I saw Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and other great jazz musicians play at Club Bohemia and the Five Spot, which were very reasonable to attend. Also, the Open Door and the Village Vanguard. Most of the artists hung around these places because they were reasonably priced and the music was great.
I did a painting titled "Quintessence",oil on board. Using that idea for a print required numerous changes in the design and composition since J. J. Johnson had just passed away. I made the instrument a trombone, for which J. J. was famous. I added to the group a bongo drummer and showed a musician's face in the bell of the trombone holding the mouthpiece to his lips.There’s also a bass player on the left and piano player to the right and, below him, a drummer with stickand brush on the drum. I had considerable assistance in making some changesand appreciated this adjustment. It was a collaborative effort that I think was well worth the while.
—From Brandywine Workshop and Archives records
