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Sharon Jones + Dap-Kings live at the Apollo - photos

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Floyd Arthur Dakil - 1945-2010

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Orquestra Contemporanea de Olinda US Debut at Lincoln Center

I know next to nothing about Brazilian music and all the styles that Orquestra Contemporanea de Olinda were mixing up in their concert last night, but whatever it was is was a lot of fun. Here are some photos from last night:


10.04.01 Orquestra Contemporanea de Olinda LC - Images by Jacob Blickenstaff





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Billy Prince at Dig Deeper

Next in the Dig Deeper series is Billy Prince, known (or unknown depending who you ask) for his great Detroit soul sides with the group the Precisions. Say hello to him over at his MySpace page. The show had a special opener with a local soul revue featuring Meah Pace from the Mellowmatics, Alba Ponce De Leon of Naomi Shelton's Gospel Queens, Cici James, Eli 'Paperboy' Reed (new album on Capitol on the way), Inyang Bassey (currently touring with Moby) and Jennie Wasserman and Ashley Vitha of the Sweet Divines.

enjoy the photos:


10.03.29 Dig Deeper Billy Prince - Images by Jacob Blickenstaff




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le Daptone: Soul Family no. 1

Daptone licensed a collection of work I shot out there this summer and was able to use it to basically take over an entire magazine - the nicely done Soul Bag from France. Cover, TOC, Editors page, a feature story, an interview with Sharon... le works.

Additional photos by Ann Coombs, Matt Rogers, Parsley Steinweiss

click on any page for a closer look

RIP Alex Chilton, 1950-2010, photos

Alex Chilton, leader of the Box Tops, Big Star and restless solo artist, performed with Yo La Tengo in 2007 at Maxwell's in Hoboken during their annual Hanukkah mini-fest.

more pics from the archive.

A big loss, RIP.

Sharon Jones in Oprah Magazine

Congrats to Daptone Records and Sharon Jones on this great bit of press.  One of the out-takes from our album cover shoot for I Learned The Hard Way was picked up in O Magazine in the new April issue.  Click on the image to see it larger.

Look under your seats because everyone in the studio audience is getting a COPY OF THE NEW REH-CORD!!  Just kidding, but you can pre-order it here.

SXSW Photographer Survival Guide

Going to SXSW is a great experience for photographers. You will probably photograph more shows in a week than you do in several months in your hometown and access is pretty open on the smaller stages. I loved my visit last year and wanted to share a few practical things I learned.

The SXSW photographer survival kit

Reusable Water Bottle -

Austin is hot and dry and you will be sweating a lot running around town with a camera bag. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, there is more free beer given away at SXSW than free bottled water. However, most venues set up coolers with free tap water that you can refill a water bottle with. Do this every chance you get. I attached mine to my camera bag with a carbineer.

Wetnaps! -

A nice little travel pack of these fits discreetly into a camera bag. When you're in the war zone and need to wipe off grease from the visits to the ubiquitous street sausage carts or Death Metal pizza, these will come in very handy. Will freshen you up better than cheap napkins and keep the grease off your camera. Also good for fending off crotch rot and for any bathroom or lack-there-of emergencies. 

Sweat/Beer Towel -

Great for mopping your brow in the sweaty Austin heat and for sopping up spilled/thrown/sprayed beer off your camera. Take one with you from the hotel room in the morning or pack a few from home.

Roll-on Sunblock -

I like this little Neutrogena SPF 30 Sunblock stick. It doesn't take up any space in the bag and won't leak. Stands up to sweat and its not greasy or slippery.

Mini Flash Light -

Either a mini mag-lite or LED keychain will help you find stuff at the bottom of your camera bag in a dark club. Last year I stayed in an Airstream trailer in a local Austinite's back yard.  That flashlight came in mighty handy finding my way and getting the key in the door.

Tylenol -

Between the sun, the beer, the sweat, the noise, the slam dancing, the walking and the standing you are going to need it.

Notebook + Pens -

There is so much going on that it helps to write out a plan for the day. I used a moleskine reporter notebook to write out my schedule but if you are more tech savvy there are a bunch of iPhone apps to help with scheduling (although service may be spotty). Check the local newspapers as they have comprehensive schedules listed as well.

Backpack Straps or Backpack photo bag-

I use the Think-Tank photo Urban Disguise 60 as my main carry around bag. They have a nifty shoulder harness accessory that hooks onto 2 D rings and the handles of the bag to give you a back pack strap. This greatly reduced fatigue throughout the day. Also think carefully about what you really need and pack as light as possible without forgetting the essentials.

Energy Bars -

There is not a lot of time to stop and eat and your choices on the main strip are basically pizza and grilled meats of varying quality. A few good energy bars stashed away will help you get through an energy crash when stopping to eat means missing a performance. Austin is the hometown of Whole Foods so you are in luck, there is a big one not too far from the action.

Good supportive and comfortable shoes, light, breathable clothing and extra earplugs-

No explanation needed.

Good Luck! If you have any more suggestions, leave 'em in the comments.

Andre Williams in Nortonville

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RIP Dale Hawkins - live at the Ponderosa Stomp 2009

A great innovator and personality of the rock and roll era passed away today. Dale Hawkins died after a struggle with cancer at the age of 74. Last year at the annual Ponderosa Stomp festival in New Orleans, Dale delivered an amazing set sandwiched between James Burton (who at age 14 originated the searing guitar riffs heard on 'Suzie-Q' and went on to lay down brilliant guitar work for Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley and many others) and Deke Dickerson who has been preserving the history of western guitar with his fine ensemble the Eccophonics.

I was lucky to be there that night. I don't remember the exact quote, but Dale seemed so happy and energized by the gig that he told the audience that performing his music with such great company did him more good than all the medicine in the world.

part of the show was broadcast on American Routes

Update: Norton Records has a very beautiful remembrance of their friend up here

Behind the Scenes: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

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Jay Reatard at Gonerfest 2007

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Sharon Jones at Brooklyn Bowl 12/30/09

Happy New Year Everyone

Sharon Jones helped us get through the holidays with a home-borough show at the Brooklyn Bowl the day before NYE. Here's hoping for a good year of music in 2010.

Photoshelter Slideshow Here

Definitely STILL LIFE at the STAX MUSEUM

This past Sunday I returned from Memphis, humbled and my heart filled by the great response we had at the opening for "STILL LIFE IN SOUL: Contemporary Music Photography by Jacob Blickenstaff" at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

On Friday, November 6th, the Stax Museum combined a party for members and former artists with the reception for the show, it was a beautiful evening. Former Stax president and now head of the Memphis Music Foundation, Al Bell, gave me, the Stax alumni in the room and the Stax Music Academy heartfelt introductions. With the talented music academy backing, Eddie Floyd was coaxed to sing his soul mega-hit "Knock on Wood", followed by Harvey Scales performing "I Can't Turn You Loose" and then William Bell with his masterful "You Don't Miss Your Water".

Eddie Floyd

Harvey Scales

William Bell

The vibe in the room was amazing, and was truly felt by everyone. It was a shared moment- between the young and the old, the music makers and the music lovers, the many who made contributions to Stax and the many who lovingly preserve its legacy. It was a very proud moment for me to see that my work added to that connection. The experience was a strong reminder that I've been on the right track with my instincts all this time and a great push forward.

We had many honored guests including Al Bell, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Harvey Scales, James Alexander of the Bar Kays, J Blackfoot of the Soul Children, Bettye Crutcher, Willie Hall, Deannie Parker, Curtis Johnson and Sam Jones of the Astors, Teenie and Charles Hodges of the Hi Rhythm Section, Jody Stephens of Big Star, and William Brown (of the Mad Lads and acclaimed producer/engineer) along with many others.

click here for a photo gallery of the exhibit

To top it all off, we got some great press in Memphis as well. On the Thursday before the show, I was interviewed on WREG's 'Live at 9' and managed not to embarrass myself.

I was also honored that the Commercial Appeal ran a cover story in their weekend calendar. You can read the great piece by Bob Mehr here.

Thank you Stax Museum (especially Tim Sampson), Memphis, Ponderosa Stomp, Dig Deeper, Daptone, and all my friends and family that support me and my work.

STILL LIFE IN SOUL opening at Stax Museum in Memphis this Friday!

It's almost here! Friday night we are having a special event at the Stax Museum with music by the Stax Academy, special guest appearances by Stax alumni (Al Bell, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Harvey Scales expected), food and drink and a first look at the exhibit.

7-10 PM
free for museum members, $20 at the door for non-members.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
926 E. McLemore Ave, Memphis TN.

Memberships start at $50, really worth it to support this great organization.

official info page on the Stax website here

We've had a great response so far, keep your eyes open for articles in the Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Flyer. I really hope that this show can add something to the growing interest soul music's past and future. - J

STILL LIFE IN SOUL STAX MUSEUM ANNOUNCEMENT

This is an official announcement of my upcoming photography show at the Stax Museum in Memphis, opening November 6th. I couldn't be more excited. To my knowledge this is the first show of its kind to shine a broad light on the resurgence of soul music. I hope that the show show serves to legitimize what's been going on and give it another push forward.

You can download an Electronic Press Kit about the show here

Stax Museum info page

Facebook Event page

from the press release:

MEMPHIS, TN - The Stax Museum of American Soul Music announces a new exhibition, “STILL LIFE IN SOUL,” opening November 6th, 2009. The exhibit explores the current life, activity, and resurgence in popularity of soul music through portrait, performance, and documentary photography made since 2005 by music photographer Jacob Blickenstaff.

Soul music was a nuanced, emotional, and energetic idiom that reached a worldwide audience at its height in the 1960s but then virtually disappeared by the end of the 1970s. After subsequent decades of disco, hip-hop, rap, and modern R&B – much of which covered and sampled original soul music classics from Stax Records and other labels – the roots of authentic soul are sprouting again with revived careers of veteran artists, dynamic new acts, successful concerts and festivals, reissue projects, and soul-driven independent labels.

Artists represented in the 40 photos in the exhibit include Bettye LaVette, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Lee Fields & the Expressions, Barbara Lynn, Maxine Brown, Roscoe Robinson, Harvey Scales, Candi Staton, Sir Lattimore Brown, Otis Clay, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Skip Pitts, Ben Cauley, Mighty Hannibal, John Gary Williams (of the Mad Lads), and many others. The work chronicles performances at The Ponderosa Stomp, Lincoln Center, Dig Deeper, and the Brooklyn Soul Festival, as well as recording sessions at Daptone Studios. Many performances were backed by contemporary soul bands the Bo-Keys, The Sweet Divines, and Eli Reed and the True Loves.

26th Roots of American Music Festival at Lincoln Center

Closing out the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival was the 2-day 26th Annual Roots of American Music program which presented a great and varied spread of roots related artists.



I went to photograph on my own and was particularly excited to see the re-formed Texas Tornadoes with original members (and legends) Flaco Jimenez and Augie Meyers - led by Doug Sahm's son Shawn, who does a great honor to his father's music and is a heck of a rock 'n roller himself.

Other artists in the photos include Ramblin' Jack Elliot, the Holmes Brothers, Lizz Wright, Allen Toussaint (all day one) plus the BRC Orchestra, the Louisiana Renegades, and a great lineup for the 'Mazel Tov, Mis Amigos' project on day 2.

Here is a slide show of some of the highlights.

Much praise to my friends at Lincoln Center who worked so hard to produce a wonderful season.

Brooklyn Soul Festival in Time Out New York

Kudos to my friends at Dig Deeper and Eli Reed for putting together the great 'Brooklyn Soul Festival' starting tonight at the Bell House in Brooklyn. These guys have been deservedly picking up some good press. We were able to work together to get this portrait of Otis Clay to run half page in Time Out New York with a lengthy profile of the event. Good Event + Good Promotion + Good Photography = success!

Tanya Tagaq Stew & Heidi @ Lincoln Center

Just a few photos to cure the Summertime Blues. From the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival with Inuit phenom Tanya Tagaq and Broadway agent provocateurs Stew and crew (Heidi plus a very talented band.)

Last song was 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' to a disco beat (see dancers at the end of the slideshow)

Disco Stew Doesn't Compromise....

Click for the FULL GALLERY