Monday, April 11 – Jazz Alley
2033 6th Avenue, Seattle
Time: 7:00pm
(Program starts at 7:30pm)
Vocalist and author Katy Bourne published a nice piece on Ron Hudson that we’d like to share:
The Seattle jazz community lost a dear friend with the recent death of photographer Ron Hudson. For over three decades, Ron photographed some of the greatest artists in jazz history. With a keen eye and a fierce passion for the music, Ron captured intimate moments from hundreds of jazz performances. Many of his images were shot at the Monterey Jazz Festival, which Ron had a special affinity for. In 2007, Ron published a collection of his elegant black and white photographs in a book called “Right Down Front: Ron Hudson Jazz Images.”
I first met Ron in 2005 when I went to his studio to buy a photograph of Pat Metheny. We hit it off immediately In the spring of 2006, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ron for an article in “All About Jazz.” Ron not only had a deep love for jazz but also an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the music. He shared dozens of stories about the musicians he met and the photographs he took of them. I spent many an enchanting afternoon with Ron. Long after the article was published, we remained friends. Ron loved Big Bands, and occasionally he would join me for a Garfield Jazz Band performance. Ron was a strong advocate for jazz education, and traveled extensively with the Roosevelt High Jazz Band. In Ron’s words, it is the “young kids” who will “perpetuate the music.”
Ron was an extraordinary ambassador for jazz, a master of vision and light and a very good friend. I will miss him a lot. Luckily, his wonderful stories will live on in his photographs.
A celebration of Ron’s life will be held Monday, April 11 at 7pm at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. There will be performances from the Roosevelt High School Jazz band as well as various artists from Origin Records. Donations in Ron’s memory can be made to the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band or the Garfield High Jazz Band. To check out Ron’s images, please visit his website: www.ronhudsonjazzphotography.com
photo of Ron Hudson by Chad McCullough