Jazz: The Spirit of the Moment, Celebrating 80 Years with 80 Images by Local Photography Legend Jim Allen

June 8 through July 22, 2012: Colacino Gallery, Nazareth College Arts Center

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Roy Hargrove

ROCHESTER, NY (05/17/2012)(readMedia)-- Just in time for the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Colacino Gallery at the Nazareth College Arts Center will exhibit 80 jazz photographs by local photography legend Jim Allen, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. The exhibit will open June 8, with a reception from 6-8 p.m., and will remain on view through July 22.

About Jim Allen

As a jazz drummer during the 50s, 60s, and early 70s Jim Allen participated in weekly jam sessions with such notables as Kenny Burrell, Jack McDuff, Johnny Griffin, Dexter Gordon, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and others at the Pythood Club in Rochester. Mr. Allen says that during those glorious and wonderful years, he had the opportunity to establish and nurture lasting relationships with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world. When he became deeply immersed in the art of photography it came as no surprise that he would concentrate his efforts on documenting and preserving those special moments in jazz.

Mr. Allen eschews flash because it is offensive to musicians. He favors black & white over color because it has a darker and more dramatic feel that captures jazz in its natural state. He firmly believes his innate musicality and kinship with fellow musicians give him an edge in capturing the spirit of the moment when an artist is at the apex of his/her performance. The prolific master photographer whose vibrantly aesthetic images give a tacit salute to the artistry of such visual griots as Herman Leonard and Francis Wolff has showcased his work at the Eastman House (where some of his pictures are permanently housed), The Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, Light Impressions, High Falls, Link Gallery at City Hall, and The Cleveland Fine Art Expo (where he garnered the Featured Artist of the Year award). His photographs have graced the covers of such national publications as FI: The Magazine of Music & Sound and About...Time. His work has also been featured on record jackets and publications such as Down Beat, the Democrat & Chronicle, the Frederick Douglass Voice, and The Minority Reporter. In 2003 he worked in a collaborative spirit with the Health Association of Rochester to promote and design a calendar to celebrate that organization's 15th anniversary. Upon seeing the calendar renowned jazz photographer Herman Leonard wrote Mr. Allen and shared the following sentiments: "Your calendar is excellent! Considering you only started in 1987, you've leap frogged into greatness in a very short time."

Some of Mr. Allen's photos are in the private collection of such luminaries as Bruce Lundvall of BlueNote records, saxophonist David Sanborn, drummer Roy McCurdy, and photographer Herman Leonard. Always willing to give back to the community, Mr. Allen has graciously donated pictures to fraternal, public and private organizations to promote student scholarship.

A native of Rochester, Mr. Allen is a retired educator who holds degrees from SUNY at Brockport and the University of Buffalo where he distinguished himself as a Rockefeller Fellow.

About the Colacino Gallery

Established through the generous support of Margaret Colacino, artist and art educator, the Colacino Gallery serves as a cultural and educational resource for Nazareth students as well as the greater Rochester community. Its goal is to complement the liberal arts by fostering critical thinking, intellectual diversity, visual literacy, and aesthetic values. In addition to exhibitions generated in-house, artists are invited to submit proposals for solo or small group shows to the Colacino Gallery Director, Dr. Cathy Sweet.

Gallery Location and Hours

The Colacino Gallery is located in the Art Department wing of the Arts Center complex on the second floor. Regular Gallery hours are Wednesday – Saturday 12-5 p.m. Call 585-389-5073 for hours during the academic break.

About the Nazareth College Arts Center

The Nazareth College Arts Center is the premier presenter of world-class dance, children's theatre, visual arts and international entertainment in greater Rochester. The Arts Center is the home of Rochester Children's Theatre and Bach Children's Chorus as well as the performance home of Rochester City Ballet and Garth Fagan Dance.

The Arts Center houses the Nazareth College departments of art, music, and theatre arts, which present exceptional theatre productions, musicals, opera, recitals, and art exhibitions each year.

Nazareth College Arts Center is a valuable resource to the greater Rochester community. It serves as a venue for auditions, art classes, music lessons, recitals, fundraisers, lectures, community theatre productions, camps, workshops and graduations.

Visit artscenter.naz.edu for more information.