Masters of Jazz

One of the most renowned jazz photographers of all time, Francis Wolff (1907-1971) was also a record company executive and producer. His skills were essential to the success of record label Blue Note.

Born Jakob Franz Wolff in Berlin, Germany, he quickly became a jazz lover, despite the government ban on this type of music after 1933. As a Jew, he left Berlin in 1939, where he had worked as a photographer, and settled in New York. He started working there with his childhood friend Alfred Lion, who co-founded Blue Note Records with Max Margulis.

Wolff took thousands of photos during the label's recording sessions and rehearsals. His highly personal visual concept would forever be associated with both Blue Note and jazz as a whole.