5 days ago
Remembering Rochester Jazz Photographer Jim Allen
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — James Jim Allen taught himself how to take photographs, and it became a second career. For decades, Allen could be found front and center at the concerts of some of the world's most recognizable jazz artists or up-and-coming musicians.
'I like this one he took right here of Al Jarreau. It was coming out of the darkness. It's my favorite,' said Johnny Allen, Jim's brother. 'I always looked up to him, ' he said.
From a room in their home, affectionately called 'Jimmy's Room,' John and his wife Carmen say they remain in awe of Jimmy's talent, his work ethic, and good nature. The room is filled with more than a dozen black and white photos of artists like Diana Ross, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Boney James, Trombone Shorty, India Arie, and Bobby McFerrin.
Allen passed away Monday, May 26th, at the age of 93. The retired educator, jazz drummer, writer, and jazz photographer was a community compass, sharing his knowledge about Rochester, photography, and jazz with anyone looking to learn.
'He had an eye, he would always talk about looking at it from a different angle as if you're on the other side,' Carmen explained Jim's approach to photography. He rarely, if ever, used flash to capture his subject and preferred black and white over color photos. 'If you look at each one, there's not a standard pose. He really captures the essence at just the right point. He would always say, 'Get them at the pinnacle of their performance,'' she said.
Allen's work has been featured on album covers, in music publications, local newspapers, museums, and exhibits. In 2003, his photos were displayed at the George Eastman Museum in a solo exhibition called Jazz: A New Millennium.
'We were in awe because he was the first African American to have his pictures hanging up in Eastman', John said.
One of the founders of the Clarissa Street Reunion, Jim was the oldest of four children who grew up in the neighborhood that was destroyed by urban renewal by 1972. He sat in on jam sessions at the famed Pythodd Club alongside jazz greats, like George Benson.
'It was like a natural to him', said John, who explained it was their older sister Joan who introduced them to jazz as children. In recent years, Jim would share his knowledge of Rochester with teens looking to learn about the area's rich history.
As the Rochester International Jazz Festival approaches, Carmen says it will be sad to know Jim will not be there, as he was at nearly every jazz performance in the Rochester area.
'Hanging out with him when he was at those concerts was the best!' Carmen explained. 'Whenever we would go to a jazz festival, all these photographers with thousands of cameras on their backs would run up to him and ask, 'How do you do this, or do that?'' said John. 'Or they would show him (Jim) their photo,' Carmen added.
In addition to his brother and sister-in-law, James Allen is survived by his sister, two daughters, granddaughter, and former wife.
'In spite of all of his accomplishments, a noted teacher, principal, writer, photographer, and musician, the most important thing to Jimmy was his family,' said Carmen.
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