Jazz Services and then Jazz UK, with the National Jazz Archive, had an arrangement with Brian O’Connor to assist him in creating an archive of his work and to ensure there is a concrete legacy of his photographic work. Brian’s site Images of Jazz   has been up and running since 2002, the year he retired from his day job. Brian’s last updated biography is set out here:

Brian O'Connor
Brian O’Connor

I have always enjoyed photography. Then, in the early sixties the beautiful sounds of Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd playing Desafinado gradually lead me into the world of jazz. My education was also assisted by being a member of the Frank Sinatra App. Soc. A debt is owed to the many people I met there, especially one Stan Britt who has his own gallery in the Catalogue section.

In the seventies my photographic efforts began to be concentrated on the music, thus combining two hobbies in one, and occasionally a third when sipping a glass of malt whilst carrying out the first two.

2016 saw the self publication of my book, Brian O’Connor’s images of jazz. A selection of images taken between 1971 and 2016. The biggest difficulty was who to leave out. Errors all around in that respect, but still managed to include over 400 names. I had hoped to make it to 50 years before attempting this task, but finally decided to do it whilst still in almost full possession of my faculties.

Now, 14 years into retirement, my hours are spent playing golf, badly, continuing to enjoy and photograph the artists performing my favourite music, and travelling. Yes, I’ve just reached the famous three score and ten (plus 5).

I finally made it to New Orleans. An amazing city and lifestyle, but incredibly so much renovation still to do. On a slightly different note, I  also made it to Memphis. Went to purchase a beer on Beale St., and was asked to give proof of age. As the person making the request was 8ft tall and weighed 300lbs I, upon due reflection, decided to acquiesce to what I suddenly discerned as being a perfectly reasonable demand.

2017 sees the commencement of my 47th year taking  pictures. Hopefully after another 33 years I’ll be doing an update on 80 years of jazz photography. I won’t be holding my breath (probably quite the opposite), but I’ll give it my best shot.

A great thank you to all the musicians, clubs and venues that keep the music alive and have permitted the photos to be taken. They all deserve a medal. To quote from the ancient sayings of a certain Ronnie Scott, ‘It’s easy to make a million out of jazz. Just start off with two’.

!cid_9AD7ABF720EC486491751AA46A2A9DB0@BrianPCBrian published Images of Jazz in 2017 wirth a foreword by Peter Ind. The book was originally on sale for £20 plus £4.95 post and packing, UK.    The book was published on a non profit basis and sales are just to cover the cost of production. Brian has offered visitors to this site a special offer of £15 plus £4.95pp to a UK address. Anyone interested in buying from overseas should contact Brian direct for a quote to his email address info@imagesofjazz.com.  For sales in the UK please send a cheque made out to Brian O’Connor, and sent to his home address, 48 Sarel Way, Horley, Surrey, RH6 8EW.

Images of Brian’s work can be purchased directly from Heritage Images. Heritage Images is an exceptional digital picture library of high resolution images. It contains a carefully edited collection of rare and original images of respected national and international institutions as well as private collections.

 

 

 

 

In the slideshow below are a range of photographs from Brian’s collection

!cid_9AD7ABF720EC486491751AA46A2A9DB0@BrianPC
Clowes Trish 48639 Watermill J.C. Dorking Surrey 7
Dankworth Johnny 0100806 Ronnie Scott's 1973
Gillespie Sarah 48856 Watermil J.C. Dorking Surrey 8
Ghosh Arun 56748 Ropetackle Arts Centre Shoreham 23.01
Forbes Shaney 42873 Love Supreme Jazz Fest. Glynde E.Sx 7
Delmar Elaine 0540020 Ronnie Scott's 2
Delmar Elaine 51913 Hawth Crawley W. Sx 2
Holder Frank 59693 Studio Hawth Crawley W. Sx 19.3
Hutchings Shabaka 35675 Imperial Wharf Jazz Fest. London 9
Ind Peter 21101 Clocktower Cafe Croydon 10 (1)
Laine Cleo 0105004 Dorchester London 1975
Le Sage Bill 0978906 Watermill J. C. Dorking Surrey 4
Marta Capponi Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking 11.6.19.
Les Cirke NJA Methodist Chapel, Loughton 27.7.19.
Bryan Corbett, Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking 25.6.19.
John Etheridge, Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 28.5.19.
Paul Higgs NJA Methodist Chapel, Loughton 27.7.19.
Noelle Vaughan, Serendipity, Horley 28.6.19.
Spike Wells, Splash Point Jazz Club, Eastbourne 24.7.19.
John Williams, Watermill Jazz Club. Dorking 14.5.19.
Kate Williams, Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking 14.5.19.
Natalie MacLean Friday night jazz at Serendipity, Horley 15th March 2019
Peter Ind Rottingdean Jazz Club 14th March 2019.
Peter Ind and Claire Martin Rottingdean Jazz Club 14th March 2019.
Sara Dowling, Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking 12th February 2019
Steve Brown Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking 12th February 2019
Courtney Pine, Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2014
Courtney Pine, Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 1987
Joel Prime, Alina Bzhezhinska Watermill Jazz Club. Dorking 22nd January 2019
Kofi Tony and Larry Bartley,Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet,
Alina Bzhezhinska Watermill Jazz Club. Dorking 22nd January 2019
Helena Kay The Verdict, Brighton 15th December 2018
Alex Webb Tony Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 3rd July 2018
Alfonso Vitale Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 3rd July 2018
Helena Kay, Ferg Ireland and Dave Ingamells The Verdict, Brighton 15th December 2018
Julian Marc Stringle NJA Methodist Church Loughton 23rd June 2018
Terry Seabrook 24th July 2018
Byron Wallen Tony Kofi Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 3rd July 2018
Tony Kofi Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 3rd July 2018
Tony Kofi and Byron Wallen Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 3rd July 2018
Jack Kendon 24th July 2018
Deelee Dube Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 3rd July 2018
PeterFraize Three Horseshoes Knockholt 24th July 2018
Will Glaser Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 7th August 2018
Sarah Tandy Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 10 July 2018
Dominic Ashworth NJA Methodist Church Loughton 23rd June 2018
Rod Brown NJA Methodist Ch. Loughton 23rd June 2018
Andy Cleyndert NJA Methodist Church Loughton 23rd June 2018
Daniel Casimir Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 10th July 2018
Camilla George Quartet Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 10th July 2018
Camilla George Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 10th July 2018
Josephine Davies Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 7th August 2018
Josephine Quartet Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 7th August 2018
Oli Hayhurst Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 7th August 2018
Tomorrow's Warriors The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Aleksandra Topczewska The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Roella Oloro The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Loucin Moskofian The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Lettie Leyland The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Kasia Kawalek The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Alana Curtis The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Jelly Cleaver The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Gabrielle Carberry The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Romana Campbell The Miller Centre Caterham 7th June 2018
Alison Dewar Pizza Express Maidstone 2008
Michele Drees Ronnie Scott's 1998
Ian Carr at Ronnie Scott's 1991
Ian Carr London 1975
Polly Gibbons Ashtead Jazz Club 2018
Polly Gibbons Ashtead Jazz Club 2018
Tommy Andrews Verdict Brighton 2016
Carleen Anderson Imperial Wharf Jazz Fest London 2011
Simon Allen Brecon Jazz Festival 2008
Brandon Allen Hastings Jazz Club 2011
Bruce Adams Daneby Hall 2006
Acker Bilk Dorking Halls Dorking Surrey 2012
Acker Bilk and Enrico Tomasso Dorking Halls Dorking Surrey 2012
Kenny Ball Dorking Halls Dorking Surrey 2012
Gary Crosby Brecon Jazz Festival 2005
Cleveland Watkiss Tenor Clef Hoxton Square London 1992
Leo Richardson Boaters Jazz Boaters Inn Kingston-upon-Thames 2018
Tina May Mike Hatchard Hawth Crawley 2018
Imelda May Love Supreme Jazz Festival Glynde Place 2014
Duncan Lamont Watermill Jazz Club Dorking Surrey 2002
John Horler The King's Arms Ockley 2015
John Horler Don Lusher Roy Babbington Hawth Crawley 2006
Alan Barnes Under Ground Theatre Eastbourne 2015
Yazz Ahme Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 2018
Jason Yarde Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 2015
Kenny Wheeler Watermill Jazz Dorking 2009
Nick Weldon Hawth Crawley 1999
Christine Tobin Hawth Crawley 2010
Shirley Tetteh Ropetackle Arts Centre Shoreham 2016
Tina May Tenor Clef
Edana Minghella Brunswick Hove 2015
Robert Mitchell Jazz Hastings Hastings 2010
Sarah Moule Hawth Crawley 2014
Allison Neale Pizza Express London 2007
Charlie Pyne Watermill Jazz Club Dorking 2016
Sue Richardson Under Ground Theatre Eastbourne 2011
Annie Ross Pizza on the Park London 1996
Julian Siegel Love Supreme J. F. Glynde Place 2015
Barbara Snow Hawth Crawley 2014
Ant Law The Brunswick Hove 2013
Laura Jurd Love Supreme J. F. Glynde Place 2015
Clare Hirst Pantiles Tunbridge Wells 2005
Shireen Francis Hawth Crawley 2014
Jo Fooks Hawth Crawley 2012
Digby Fairweather Capital Jazz Knebworth 1981
Jacqui Dankworth Daneby Hall 2006
John Critchinson John NJA Methodist Church Loughton 2017
Deidre Cartwright Verdict Brighton 2014
Liane Carroll The Edge London 1991
AlisonRayner Verdict Brighton 2014
Jason Rebello Tenor Clef 1991
Clare Teal NJA Methodist Church Loughton 2017
Gordon Campbell Big Band 30709 Hawth Crawley 2010
Pete Long Ropetackle Arts Centre 2016
Nash Derek Sax Appeal Ship Th. Sevenoaks
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra Hawth Crawley 2011
Surrey County Youth Jazz Orchestra Whitgift Centre 2007
Chris Barber Dorking Halls Dorking Surrey 2012
Mark Mondesir Tenor Clef 1991
Geoff Eales The Woodman Ide Hill Sevenoaks 2011
Peter King Bass Clef London 1985
Nikki Illes Watermill Jazz Club 2000
Guy Barker Jazz Cafe London 1994
Jungr Barb Pizza Exp. Dean St. London 2011
Martin Drew Brecon Jazz 2006
Jazz On The Broad 18th June 2016. Ed Rice
James Reuben 42109 Watermill Jazz Club Dorking Surrey 6
Rendell Don 18050880 Braithwaite Hall Croydon 6
Winstone Norma 56548 Ropetackle Arts Centre Shoreham 22.01
Tracey Stan (Clark Tracey) 40893 Under Grd Th. Eastbourne 3
Taylor Martin (A.Barnes) 43507 Watermill Jazz Club Dorking Surrey 9
Sharp Karen 61424 Splash Point J. C. Seaford E. Sx 3.9
Scott Ronnie 0755512 Ronnie Scott's 4
Rendell Don 18050880 Braithwaite Hall Croydon 6
Morrisey Dick 0318708 Knebworth 7
Ghosh Arun 56748 Ropetackle Arts Centre Shoreham 23.01
Gillespie Sarah 48856 Watermil J.C. Dorking Surrey 8
Holder Frank 59693 Studio Hawth Crawley W. Sx 19.3
Hutchings Shabaka 35675 Imperial Wharf Jazz Fest. London 9
Ind Peter 21101 Clocktower Cafe Croydon 10 (1)
Laine Cleo 0105004 Dorchester London 1975
Le Sage Bill 0978906 Watermill J. C. Dorking Surrey 4
Lowther Henry 58565 Methodist Church Loughton Essex 22.10
Mancio Georgia 35749 Pizza Exp. Dean St. London 10
Martin Claire 0757921 Ronnie Scott's 2 (1)
Forbes Shaney 42873 Love Supreme Jazz Fest. Glynde E.Sx 7
Delmar Elaine 0540020 Ronnie Scott's 2
Delmar Elaine 51913 Hawth Crawley W. Sx 2
Dankworth Johnny 0100806 Ronnie Scott's 1973
Clowes Trish 48639 Watermill J.C. Dorking Surrey 7
!cid_9AD7ABF720EC486491751AA46A2A9DB0@BrianPC
Brian O'Connor
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