The Bob Willoughby Photo Archive

Documenting Hollywood and Jazz in the midcentury

  • The PHOTOGRAPHS
    • Hollywood
    • Jazz
    • W-Series
  • About Bob
    • Biography
    • Bibliography
    • Collections
    • Exhibitions
  • Image Licensing
  • Galleries
  • Contact
  • Search the Archive

Jazz

Before he became known as the great chronicler of Hollywood stars, Bob Willoughby produced an astonishing series of photographs of pivotal jazz musicians. Working at night in his garage to avoid light leaks, the radio blasting, Willoughby heard all the greats from that golden era of jazz. If he heard a live broadcast at a local venue, he’d grab his cameras and rush down there to shoot.

John McLaughlin at Jazz Gipfel in Liederhalle, Stuttgart, 1992.
Oscar Peterson at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, 1950.
Stan Getz Stan Getz and Benny Goodman at Universal Studios in Hollywood, 1955.
Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck in concert; Carmel, CA, 1954.
Young girls screaming with wild abandon at the Big Jay McNeely concert at Olympic Auditorium; Los Angeles, 1951.
Louis Armstrong on the stairs at MGM between takes on High Society, 1956.
Big Jay McNeely driving the crowd into a frenzy at his concert at Olympic Auditorium; Los Angeles, 1951.
Gerry Mulligan playing at a Los Angeles recording session, 1953.
A pensive Chet Baker playing at a Los Angeles recording session, 1953.
Gerry Mulligan directing a recording session in Los Angeles, 1953.
Frank Sinatra
Billie Holiday singing her plaintive songs at the Tiffany Club in Los Angeles, 1952.
Ornette Coleman tearing up the scenery at Jazz Gipfel in Liederhalle, Stuttgart, 1992.
Chet Baker after a recording session with Gerry Mulligan, Los Angeles, 1953.
Chet Baker's trumpet with sheet music to I'm Glad There is You, Los Angeles recording session, 1954.
Dave Brubeck performing at The Haig in Los Angeles, 1950.
Chet Baker laying it down at Fantasy recording session, Los Angeles, 1953.
Close portrait of Chet Baker resting after recording session with Gerry Mulligan in Los Angeles, 1953.
Dave Brubeck performs at The Haig in Los Angeles, 1950.
Miles Davis resting
Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and crew are treated to an impromptu concert by Louis Armstrong, on the MGM set of High Society, 1956.
Paul Desmond at his own recording session, Los Angeles, 1954.
Drummer Al Bartee in action at the Big Jay McNeely concert; Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 1951.
Frank Sinatra rehearsing for his show at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, 1960.
Cal Tjader in action at the Black Hawk nightclub in San Francisco, 1957.
Marcus Roberts listening in the wings at Jazz Gipfel in Liederhalle, Stuttgart, 1992.
Roy Eldridge relaxes backstage at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, 1950.
Duke Ellington lighting Gene Norman's cigar at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, 1950.
Bass player dreaming amidst the frenzy of the Big Jay McNeely concert; Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 1951.
Bass player dreaming amidst the frenzy of the Big Jay McNeely concert; Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 1951.
Billie Holiday performing at the Tiffany Club in Los Angeles, 1952.
Coleman Hawkins photographed after a "Just Jazz" concert at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles, 1950.
Smilin' Smokey Lynn at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, 1951.
Ella Fitzgerald at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, 1950.
Shelly Manne (and June Christy in foreground) with the Stan Kenton Orchestra at Rendezvous Ballroom; Balboa, CA, 1950.
Roy Eldridge performs at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, 1950.
Frank Sinatra waits alone on the set of The Judy Garland Show, 1962.
Frank Sinatra listens to playback at "The Man with the Golden Arm" recording session, 1955.
Manu Katché at Jazz Gipfel in Liederhalle, Stuttgart, 1992.
Close-up of Big Jay McNeely at his concert at Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 1951.
The midnight Big Jay McNeely concert at Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, 1951.

Search the Archive

  • Contact
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

© 2023 · The Bob Willoughby Photo Archive