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New York is one of those cities fortunate enough to be crawling with musicians, so it was not unusual to find world-class performers in the most unlikely places. Corner bars and lounges that appeared to be no more than dives from the outside, were transformed into powder kegs of live entertainment once the night came on. I can remember many a night when I felt too tired to go out and photograph in the clubs, but I would drag myself anyway. And once there, the music and the energy would almost magically chase my fatigue away, and the next thing I knew it would be 4am.
I had photographed jazz in those L.A. and Greenwich Village clubs as well, but only the musicians on stage and from a safe distance. It was in Harlem that I actually got to know the musicians and form friendships that have lasted till this day. I made a conscious effort to photograph the activity off stage as well, since this was often where most of the action was happening. My presence as a regular in the clubs gave me the chance to know the other regulars and allowed me to photograph them almost as I would my family.
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