Ahmad Jamal, 1977: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black-and-white photograph of jazz pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal performing in South Miami, FL. Jamal is photographed from an extreme low angle and appears in right-profile. He is wearing a light colored suit jacket and has his eyes closed while playing.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1977
• Photograph by: David D. Spitzer, American
• Subject of: Ahmad Jamal, American, 1930 - 2023
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 13 3/4 x 9 5/16 in. (34.9 x 23.7 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 13 7/8 x 9 3/4 in. (35.2 x 24.7 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Matted): 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
• Place captured: South Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Photography
• Object number: 2012.164.68
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of David D. Spitzer
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © David D. Spitzer Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.