The Gallery at Hillside Square, Jazz House Kids and the Montclair Jazz Festival present “Jazz in Focus,” featuring the work of three noted jazz photographers — Richard Conde, Patrick Hilaire and the late Ed Berger. In this exhibit, each artist has a slightly different field of vision on jazz artists, either on the stage or at their leisure. The free art exhibition will be open from July 27 through October 27, 2017. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, July 27th from 6-9pm. This show leads up to the annual Montclair Jazz Festival, which is produced by Jazz House Kids with presenting sponsorship by Bravitas and the Silver Family Foundation.

RICHARD CONDE is a respected jazz photographer who has photographed some of the greatest musicians living today. He is currently the official photographer for the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, and the Newport Jazz Festival. His work has been featured in every major jazz publication as well as The New York Times and National Geographic. He has also captured many special moments for Jazz House Kids over the years.

Haitian-born photographer PATRICK HILAIRE has been a Jazz lover since childhood when his older brother Max Hilaire, also a noted photographer, brought home Herbie Mann’s The Glory of Love. In addition to the impact the music had on him, the album cover cemented the relationship between images and sound. Hilaire is a fixture in music venues and at jazz festivals throughout the tri-state area, his love of the music and photography readily apparent in the images he shoots. His goal is to capture his subjects fully in the moment since, Hilaire says, “Music performance is the platform where it’s all on display”.

ED BERGER was a jazz expert and respected author of several books and articles on the subject. He was also an accomplished, published jazz photographer who captured images of jazz greats over many decades. He was a friend to Jazz House Kids and took many of the iconic photographs that grace the walls of the Jazz House today. Berger held a full-time tenured position at the Institute for Jazz Studies, Rutgers, Newark, until his retirement in 2011. He continued work on special projects there after his retirement. Berger was a passionate jazz researcher and enthusiast and a regular contributor to Jazz Times. He also served on the editorial team for the Journal of Jazz Studies and the Annual Review of Jazz Studies. Berger was a much loved figure in the jazz world, and is deeply missed by his friends, family and the jazz community.

The 2017 Montclair Jazz Festival, produced by Jazz House Kids with presenting sponsorship by Bravitas and the Silver Family Foundation, will be held on Saturday August 12th from noon – 9pm at Nishuane Park.

JAZZ IN FOCUS
July 27th – October 27th, 2017
Opening Reception
Thursday, July 27th, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
The Gallery at Hillside Square, 8 Hillside Ave., Montclair