Eye On The Music - Jim Brock Photography
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Creating a Visual Soundtrack

Jim has cultivated a passion for live music that grew to obsession by the time he attended his first concert at 12 (the Allman Brothers). Shooting with a fan’s emotion and creating a visual soundtrack to create an image that captures the moment.
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jimbrockphoto

Music and event photographer. Ponderer. Angelino. Dropping visual soundtracks and random musings from the stage to your walls.
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I didn't know @ryanpapaporter well, but you didn't I didn't know @ryanpapaporter well, but you didn't have to know him long to get his grounded and generous spirit, his absolute love for the music, whether in the community with younger players, or on the biggest stages in the world. He was always the same dude with a huge smile and grateful attitude. This is a staggering loss of a beautiful human being around here. Feeling so much love for his family, friends and bandmates since childhood, a musical bond deeper than the flesh.
Few jazz vocalists in recent memory have found the Few jazz vocalists in recent memory have found the cross-generational audience of @samarajoysings. Whether at @newportjazzfest, @montereyjazzfestival or filling the room like she did at @bluenotelosangeles, the reaction is the same. On Thursday we were seated next to a young jazz vocalist, and the look on her face the whole set said it all. Samara Joy has a deep love of the material, of the art of singing, of the spirit of the great vocalists, and a phrasing full of adventure that makes you forget this crazy ass screen-obsessed world where nothing exists but the song, the singer, and her very talented accompanists. If you caught one of these shows, you caught something very special.
Pretty sure @stanleyclarke must be from beyond the Pretty sure @stanleyclarke must be from beyond the seventh galaxy to embody the musical force he brought to eight shows at @bluenotelosangeles, the last of which I caught Sunday night. Some 15 years ago, after an RTF reunion gig at the Hollywood Bowl, I reflected on the first time I saw Return to Forever and Stanley Clarke some (now) 50(!) years ago at the Troubadour, and how that night just cracked my mind wide open. And he’s still doing it. With a sonically expansive ensemble including @camerongravesmusic (keys), @evangarrviolinist (violin), @emiliomodeste (sax), @colincookguitar (guitar), @jcandthe_reupband and @salar_system (tabla), the set opened with “Beyond the Seventh Galaxy” and closed with a rousing “School Days” and ensuing four-string tandem with Cameroonian bassist @armand_sabal_lecco (“all the best bassists come from Cameroon”, Stanley chided). Between which an eloquent “No Mystery” landed, beautifully launched by Colin Cook. And Mingus’ farewell to Lester Young, “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”, which has been covered by everyone from Jeff Beck to Joni, became a barrelhouse punch from its slow angular roots. The mind boggling soloing from Evan Garr had jaw meet floor, and drummer Collier must be hitching the same galactic ride as the bandleader. I dunno about y’all, but this music speaks as powerfully to me today as it did in my stoner music obsessed teens. #bluenotejazz #bluenotelosangeles #concertphotographers #concertphotos #eyeonthemusic #jazz #jazzbass #jazzclubs #jazzfusion #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jimbrockphotography #liveconcertphotography #livejazz #musicphotographer #stanleyclarke #returntoforever
In a set where sublime doesn’t begin to capture wh In a set where sublime doesn’t begin to capture what @charleslloydsax at 87 brought to the Blue Note on Monday, the moment for me was when fellow photographer and author @eddie_v50 leaned across the table during the closing “Forest Flower”, and said “that song saved my life”. That is the higher power of the music and the musician. When it is so clear that the player is a messenger, a vessel, for something so much bigger. It doesn’t hurt that his quartet of @geraldclayton (p), Larry Grenadier (b) and @kwe.drums (d) have deep roots with Lloyd and share a musical language forged from a path Lloyd has travelled since the 60s. #bluenotejazz #bluenotelosangeles #charleslloyd #concertphotographers #concertphotos #eyeonthemusic #geraldclayton #jazz #jazzclubs #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jimbrockphotography #justjazz #kwekysumbry #larrygrenadier #liveconcertphotography #livejazz #musicphotographer
There are bass players, and then there are bass pl There are bass players, and then there are bass players. But there is only one @therealmarcusmiller. I’ve missed his annual swings through town this time of year, but wasn’t going to miss this one at @catalinajazzclub. Closing out a sold out four night stand with his quintet of drummer @anwarmarshall, @theofficialx._ on keys, and the horns of @russellgunn on trumpet and @dhayessax and working through a set that included Miles “Tutu” and a soul stir of Al Green’s “Love & Happiness” (with guest Larry Bragg on vocals, and @coryhenry sitting in for a few tunes) alongside MM’s catalogue. Fabulous set. #catalinajazzclub #concertphotographers #concertphotos #eyeonthemusic #jazz #jazzbass #jazzclubs #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jimbrockphotography #liveconcertphotography #livejazz #marcusmiller #musicphotographer
Like some kind of New Orleans comet, that rag tag Like some kind of New Orleans comet, that rag tag combo of Eric Lindell, @ivanneville, @stanton_moore and Robert Mercurio made its annual we-never-do-this-anywhere-else-except-when-we-go-left-coastal-to-Cali-for-a-handful-of-dates swing to @thevenicewest last night. Any collective sighting of these guys is something to appreciate, and Dragon Smoke gigs are special. You could see it on the stage and feel it in the room. The staples are there, Dyke & the Blazers “Let a Woman Be a Woman (And a Man Be a Man)”, the Toussaint penned and Aaron Neville covered “Hercules”, Lindell’s bucking “Big Horse”. So are deep dives like King Floyd’s “Groove Me”. And Ivan’s “Greatest Place on Earth” would feel absent if it wasn’t in every set, because IYKYK. L.A.’s own @jasonsinay opened with a solid set of originals and a squonky cover of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” that would make “Uncle Neal” proud. #concertphotographers #concertphotos #concertpics #concertshots #dragonsmoke #ericlindell #eyeonthemusic #galacticfunk #ivanneville #jasonsinay #jimbrockphotography #livebands #liveconcertphotography #liveconcertphotos #liveconcertpictures #liveconcerts #livemusicphotos #livemusicphotographer #livemusicphotography #livemusicphoto #liveonstage #liveperformances #liveshows #musicconcert #musicevent #musicphotographers #neworleansmusic #robertmercurio #stantonmoore #venicewest
While I lost interest in the prime time event long While I lost interest in the prime time event long ago, as a fan of wooden, stringed, wind and brass instrumentsI I keenly await the jazz, folk, blues and Americana Grammy nominations that affirm substance over sales, craft over image. A few weeks back, the @branfordmarsalis Quartet did two nights at the @bluenotelosangeles, touring on their just Grammy nominated “Belonging” album, touching on everything from the bouncy skidaddle of Jarrett’s “The Windup" to prohibition era New Orleans tunes. After all these years, this was the first time I saw Branford on his own and the company of Eric Revis (b), @joeycalderazzo (p) and @justinfaulknerofficial (d) was beyond exceptional, with plenty of Branford’s sweet soprano featured throughout the set. #bluenotejazz #bluenotelosangeles #branfordmarsalis #concertphotographers #concertphotos #eyeonthemusic #jazz #jazzclubs #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jimbrockphotography #justjazz #liveconcertphotography #livejazz #musicphotographer
After a run of 24 shows over 12 nights @bluenotelo After a run of 24 shows over 12 nights @bluenotelosangeles, it’s never been clearer how important @kamasiwashington and the West Coast Get Down collective are to this city. They expand boundaries, break them down, then rebuild them into explosions of sonic emotion. They stand on the shoulders of giants with deep roots in their home town and this community. From Central Avenue to The Epic. From being the young lions to inspiring them. Galactic in spirit and forged by Los Angeles. Beholden to none, respectful of all. And how many jazz acts have graced the stages of Bonnaroo or Coachella? #bluenotjazz #bluenotelosangeles #concertphotographers #concertphotos #eyeonthemusic #jazz #jazzclubs #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jimbrockphotography #justjazz #kamasiwashington #liveconcertphotography #livejazz #musicphotographer #westcoastgetdown
I say it every time and I’ll say it again: Tedesch I say it every time and I’ll say it again: Tedeschi Trucks is the best damn touring band on the planet, IMHO. And the 5,900 of us who packed the @greek_theatre Wednesday night knew it. It wasn’t just that this 12-piece @derekandsusan collective moves as nimbly as a jazz trio. Or the sheer joy of their musical marriage, trading fire on “The Sky Is Crying.” Or the scorching “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad” the same week Bobby Whitlock passed. Or Susan’s soul-grabbing, heart-tugging vocals colliding with Derek’s slow-burn explosion on “Midnight in Harlem.” Or absolutely rousing Mad Dogs take of “With a Little Help From My Friends.” No, it was the coming together at a moment so dominated by chaos and artifice, fueled by this band, and these players on a gorgeous summer night, that was so real. And potent. And meaningful. It was the authentic defying the noise. The mayhem quelled by the music. That’s my kind of higher power. #blues #bluesguitar #bluesphotography #concertphotographers #concertphotos #concertpics #concertshots #derekandsusan #derektrucks #eyeonthemusic #greektheatrela #jambands #jimbrockphotography #livebands #liveconcertphotography #liveconcertphotos #liveconcertpictures #liveconcerts #livemusicphotos #livemusicphotographer #livemusicphotography #livemusicphoto #liveonstage #liveperformances #liveshows #musicconcert #musicevent #musicphotographers #susantedeschi #tedeschitrucks Edited · 2m 2 minutes ago Add a comment…
A little late in sharing these. As a photographer, A little late in sharing these. As a photographer, there’s another side to Newport Jazz, away from the stage —the chance to sit with artists for portraits within the 200‑year‑old stone walls of Fort Adams. The combination of setting, natural light and subject is beyond exceptional. Let alone working with @kennygarrettoffical (posting separately), @hiromimusic, @heyemmet, @lakeciab, @nubya_garcia and @terreongully couldn’t make this photographer happier. Hopefully, I did them a little justice for all the magic they’ve sent my way. #emmetcohen #eyeonthemusic #hiromi #jazz #jazzbooks #jazzfestivals #jazzjournalists #jazzphotographer #jazzphotography #jimbrockphotography #justjazz #kennygarrett #lakeciabenjamin #livejazz #livemusicphotos #livemusicphotographer #livemusicphotography #livemusicphoto #livemusicpictures #musicconcert #musicevent #musicheadgallery #musicphotographers #newportjazz #nubyagarcia #terreongully
Sometime between when Billy Strings started sellin Sometime between when Billy Strings started selling out arenas and bluegrass was more an east of the Mississippi thing, @alisonkrauss picked up a fiddle, and 35+ years later, Alison and her Union Station bandmates sound better than ever. This is their first tour in 10 years and it might as well have been 10 days. If it has strings, @stubobduncan, @ronblockakus and @russellmooreofficial had a go. The set was rich with career spanning tunes, stirred in with material from the recently released (and truly wonderful), “Arcadia”. Oh, and that @jerrydouglas guy is pretty good with the steel and wood box, and can do no wrong in my book. His solo turn of Paul Simon’s “American Tune” and Chick Corea’s “Spain” kind of left me breathless. Angelino, and original Old Crow, @williewatsongs opened. #alisonkrauss #americana #bandphotography #bluegrass #bluegrassmusic #concertphotographers #concertphotos #concertpics #concertshots #eyeonthemusic #greektheatre #jerrydouglas #jimbrockphotography #livebands #liveconcertphotography #liveconcertphotos #liveconcertpictures #liveconcerts #livemusicphotos #livemusicphotographer #livemusicphotography #livemusicphoto #liveperformances #liveshows #musicevent #musicjournalism #musicianphoto #musicphotography #rootsmusic
Restless from going Festless? Maybe a night with @ Restless from going Festless? Maybe a night with @dumpstaphunk, @jjgreymusic and @tromboneshorty will hit the spot. Sure ‘nuf, I woke up last Monday fully refreshed from the stanky stomp of @ivanneville and the Dumpsta krewe, some, swamp time with JJ, and Troy giving 1,100 percent like he always does. The @greek_theatre only made it sweeter. I needed that. Especially before a week where the world went to s***. #concertphotographers #concertphotos #concertpics #concertshots #dumpstaphunk #eyeonthemusic #greektheatrela #ivanneville #jimbrockphotography #jjgrey #livebands #liveconcertphotography #liveconcertphotos #liveconcertpictures #liveconcerts #livemusicphotos #livemusicphotographer #livemusicphotography #livemusicphoto #liveonstage #liveperformances #liveshows #musicconcert #musicevent #musicphotographers #neworleansfunk #neworleansmusic #tromboneshorty
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