The death of photographer Terry Cryer on January 15 serves as a sharp reminder of the importance of photographs, not only in jazz but in anything. We have our albums and suitcases full of them but, will the digital images captured on mobile phones be retained for posterity? I remember the delight I felt when I discovered some black and white negs, up in the loft, from various jazz concerts in the 1980s that I thought had been lost forever. That they hadn't stood the test of time as I'd have liked them to is neither here nor there. At least I still had them.
Terry Cryer's work has stood the test of time and his photos from the early days of trad to more modern gigs are classics as witnessed by the shot I've included of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott.
A true character who managed to get himself deported from Russia, broke his neck in a car crash after a drinking session with Big Bill Broonzy and photographed Margaret Thatcher, Nikita Khrushchev and Eartha Kitt amongst other charismatic figures.
He lived the life and left the images to prove it.
His 1992 autobiography One in the Eye is due to be re-printed.
Terry Cryer was 82.
Sadly missed
Lance.
1 comment :
Yes, another sad loss. It's good to see that "One in the Eye" is to be reprinted. I have a second hand copy from which several pages are missing (probably on someones wall!). I wonder if they will run this exhibition again (http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/terry-cryer-celebration.html ).
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