Marcel Fleiss

Marcel Fleiss captured the excitement of jazz in New York and Paris during the 1950s as writer and photographer for Le Jazz Hot. Born in Paris in 1934, Fleiss first developed his interest in jazz at age fifteen, and soon was immersed in the modern musical currents of the day. At the age of eighteen, Fleiss came to New York, and was a regular presence at Birdland, the Blue Note, the Apollo Theater, and other locations where he could photograph the leading jazz players of the day.

In time, Fleiss developed friendships with many of these musicians, and assisted them in finding opportunities to perform in Europe. He also introduced many European jazz fans to the leading stars of modern jazz, writing the first articles in France on Charles Mingus, Gigi Gryce, Gene Ammons and others.

Jazz.com is proud to be able to present the work of this great photographer, whose images provide vivid and intimate documentation of an exciting era in the history of the music.

Inquiries about prints and reproduction rights should be sent to galleries@jazz.com.