For nearly 30 years, photographer Jimmy Katz has documented the world of jazz – crafting iconic portraits of legendary artists, capturing historic moments in the recording studio, or encapsulating the thrill of a nightclub performance in a single fleeting image. His vast legacy includes close to 200 magazine covers, 600 recording projects either as a photographer or an engineer, 7 books with 5 of them on jazz.

“[Katz] has developed an exceptional body of work in the jazz field, covering the elder statesmen, the icons, the mainstream and the young lions. In the process, he has developed his own style with the camera that is as identifiable as Armstrong’s tone on trumpet or Coltrane’s sound on tenor sax.”
– Michael Cuscuna, producer, Blue Note Records

In launching Giant Step Arts, Katz opens a new chapter in his artistic career. Merging his skills as a photographer, engineer and videographer, he collaborates with musicians helping them make bold, artistic statements.

I’m interested in supporting the highest level of creativity in what I believe is the greatest modern art form - jazz. Giant Step Arts will give musicians the opportunity to fulfill their dreams with no strings attached. I encourage the artists to perform primarily original compositions and strive to offer impassioned, truly remarkable music. I’m looking for raw, intense, emotional playing. That’s the kind of feeling that I believe is at the heart of jazz. I expect these artists to try to create a masterpiece - however they define it.”

-Jimmy Katz