Cynthia Lum
Photographer
Cynthia Lum
Although I normally shoot sports, I’m a passionate jazz fan so as a personal project I wanted to challenge myself and see what I could do with a series on the local jazz scene in Los Angeles. This would involve shooting in dimly lit clubs, something I wasn’t really comfortable with, but of course that’s the purpose of a challenge, to get you out of your comfort zone.
Often referred to as America’s classic music, jazz is a national treasure, an original American art form, uniting people across race, religion and national boundaries. It’s about freedom, inovation, and creativity. The portraits in this series are not of the big names that everyone knows and shoots, but of the musicians who play in small clubs for the love of the music because they certainly aren’t making big cash. Many of them have played in clubs around the world and in big venues with top names, but the real love comes in the small clubs playing for regulars and drop in’s who share their love of jazz music.
These photos are meant to be a tribute a celebration and a thank you to the musicians who put their heart and soul into the music, bringing joy, togetherness, and good times, to people of all ages, backgrounds, and colors night after night.