Second generation to master jazz photographers Herman Leonard, Chuck Stewart, Dennis Stock and Bill Gottlieb,
Carol Friedman began photographing jazz musicians in New York in the late seventies, while still an art student. Working as a
waitress in the jazz club Strykers, she kept her Leica at the ready behind the bar, but soon realized that documenting musicians
as they played music held little interest for her. When she asked Chet Baker if she could photograph him in his home, he obliged.
Gratified to have captured an aspect of Chet’s singular demeanor away from the bandstand and his music, Friedman compiled a list of the
one-hundred musicians and singers she most revered, and set about taking their portraits. These sessions initially took place on the streets
of New York and in the hallways and dressing rooms of clubs and concert halls; usually set up and improvised at a moments notice, and
often comprised only a few camera frames. In1980, Carol continued this collection of portraits in her home and studio in Soho.
Friedman was drawn to her subjects by their genius musicianship and the atmosphere of respect and camaraderie that their longstanding
associations engendered. This early portrait series began Friedman's life-long and ongoing documentation of jazz artists which would
come to include several decades of commissions for many now-classic album and CD covers. Friedman’s current projects include album
covers and book projects. She hopes to complete her feature-film documentary on the life and work of Abbey Lincoln … soon.
She frequents the Village Vanguard for continued inspiration.