All the Greats in A Great Day in Harlem

Art Kane, a freelance photographer working for Esquire, didn't have use of a studio when he took his famous photo of the 57  famous jazz greats he had managed to assemble in a street in Harlem at the unearthly hour (for jazz musicians) of 10 in the morning, on August 12, 1958.A documentary called A Great Day in Harlem, was made in 1994. Those present included Count Basie, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Mingus and Lester Young.

Only four remain living: Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Marian McPartland and Benny Golson.

Sonny Rollins was born 7th September 1930 and grew up in Harlem. He began as a pianist, moving first to the alto then tenor saxophone, trying to emulate his idol Coleman Hawkins; in the fifties he played with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, earning a reputation as a brash, creative saxophonist, a legend to the younger players.Over the years he has taken sabbaticals to study yoga and meditation.In the 1970's and 1980's he became interested in funk rhythms. His 2000 album 'This is What I do'  won a 2001 Grammy Award. Obama awarded him a National Medal of Arts in 2010.Horace Silver was born 2nd September 1928; his father was from Maio in Cape Verde, his mother was of Irish/African descent. His most famous tune, Song of My Father (Cantiga Para Meu Pia) has a flavour of his childhood days. He began as a tenor sax player but turned to the piano, and is best known for his pioneering contributions to hard bop. He was discovered by saxophonist Stan Getz, and in the fifties worked at the jazz club Birdland. He formed the Jazz Messengers, a jazz co-operative, with Art Blakey. He is one of the few jazz musicians to record almost exclusively original material.

Marian McPartland was born 20th March 1918, and played piano from the age of three. Having studied classical music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she dismayed her parents when she became interested in American Jazz, and such musicians as Fats Waller,  Duke Ellington and MaryLou Williams. She joined a vaudeville act, touring Europe and entertaining troops during WWII. After a long association with Concord Jazz Label, she started her own label, Halcyon Records, in 1969.As she knows more songs than most jazz musicians, and knows more jazz musicians than most jazz musicians, she became  the host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on radio until 2011. She was awarded a Grammy, a Trustees' Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Just before she was 90 she composed and performed 'A Portrait of Rachel Carson', a symphonic piece commemorating the centenary of the author of 'Silent Spring'.

  Benny Golson was born in Philadelphia on January 25th 1929. He has recorded over 30 albums and written over 300 compositions, including tv and film scores. He played with other promising musicians while still at High School: John Coltrane and Red Garland to name a couple. In the fifties he played with the Jazz Messengers, and Dizzie Gillespie's band. In 2004 he made a cameo appearance in the film 'The Terminal' , related to his appearance in the 'A Great Day in Harlem' Photo. In 2009 he was inducted into the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame.

Art Kane,the photographer of A Great Day in Harlem died in 1995 aged 69.