Approximately 300 black and white prints, approximately 275 are 9x7", and approximately 25 are 11¾x9½".
Musicians pictured include: Elvin Jones, the Bey Sisters, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, Percy Heath, Earl Hines, Milt Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Reginal Workman, John Coltrane, Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Count Basie, and many more. Most are stamped with Michel Montfort's copyright, many have the label of Jazz im Bild, a fair number have been signed M. Montfort on the rear, some with Montfort's hand-written identification on the rear, some bear no stamps, signatures or other markings. Most photos likely taken during European performances. A significant archive. Provenance: The Estate of Michael Montfort.
Michael Montfort was born in 1940 in Freiburg, Germany. He worked as a photojournalist on the staff of major German magazines - Stern, Quick, Bild am Sonntag - in Hamburg and Munich. In 1973 he moved to Los Angeles. He is best remembered for his extensive photographing of the poet Charles Bukowski.