Gerald Wilson: Jazz Legend

Last week I photographed jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer and arranger Gerald Wilson. He was being presented an award at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual jazz concert by Rep. John Conyers. In a room full of jazz lovers, I'm pretty sure I was the only one who had no idea who he was or any inkling of what to expect. But I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed his performance.

The work was already done. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra played songs that he'd arranged and composed years ago. That night, Gerald Wilson was sans any instrument and served as conductor and lead storyteller. I was mesmerized by the way this 92 year-old-man moved his hands, feet and body in sync with every sound that sang from the pit. Naturally, he knew every note that played and what section of the band it was being played from. I couldn't find a YouTube clip that does his energy and passion justice, but here's a sample. Shout out to his jazz roots...they run deep.

Wrasslin'

Last weekend I spent all day in a ballroom at the Washington Convention Center photographing good ole fashioned high school wrasslin'. There were no top ropes, no turnbuckles and no Jimmy Fly Snuka. No tag teams, no loud mouth managers and no glamorous ring entrances. Just mano a mano, head gear, and tights. It was a new experience. I'd never shot wrestling before and I had no idea who scored points or how. All I knew was that if you got pinned (both shoulder blades to the mat?) then the score didn't matter. Shout out to the Nelson brothers: Quarter, Half and Full who seemed to be a pretty popular bunch that day.