In December of 2015 I was approached by my friend Eric Allen who asked if I'd be interested in designing a book he was writing about the 50th anniversary of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, which has had a Monday night residency at the Village Vanguard in New York City for the past fifty years. I'd never designed an entire book from front to back so I was excited to have the opportunity to do so.
The final product is 14 chapters spanning 316 pages, with over 500 images and a 33-album discography. This was by far the largest single project I've ever worked on. Fortunately, the entire process was incredibly smooth due largely to the organizational skills of the authors, Allen and Dave Lisik.
The amount of energy they put into this book is mind-boggling. Whether you are a casual jazz enthusiast or a full-blown fanatic, this book deserves a place on your shelf. It is, I'd argue, the definitive telling of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, cementing its place in the history of jazz in the United States.
Below are some images of the book (which can be purchased here).
