STOLEN MOMENTS

The Jazz Photography of James Radke

"Stolen Moments" is photographic exhibit which tries to visually capture the essence of live music. I have always enjoyed listening to live performances. These photographs are an attempt at giving you some insight into my appreciation for live jazz.

Jazz is an improvisational art played within a structured space. The same thing can be said about visual arts. They both are examples of personal expression that require knowledge of form, composition, line and color.

As an artist I respond and create within these constraints. Musicians and photographers reach a a point in their development where technical craft becomes second nature. At this point they transcend their craft and it becomes their expression of the moment.

When the musician plays a chart within a group setting or takes a solo, he may stop reading the music and merely plays from his heart. This is known as playing "In the moment." When this occurs the music just seeems to happen. As a visual artist I am only able to photograph within this context. Consequently if the music of other life experiences don't evoke these emotions I am unable to photograph. The photographs I take are a visual response to my world. These images are not made, they are found. They are the gifts of light and time.

I hope you will enjoy the photographs and the music created by some of the muscians.

James Radke

May 28, 1996