I’ve done many portraits of BC author/legend George Bowering over the years but this one was a little different. Asked by the publisher to think “So you want it darker?” (in reference to Leonard Cohen’s final album) I had George ascend the stage at the legendary Penthouse Nightclub for a kind of dark stand-up look to introduce a new collection of essays. Last Essays was the working title but I prefer it for this image which, if you know George’s usual broad smile for the camera is kind of funny…in a dry way! I used the font Landmark (recently used for Friends of Chamber Music’s poster campaign) because it had the right kind of “showbiz” feel.
I really enjoy working for Friends of Chamber Music and designing each season’s posters and digital advertising content. This year has been no exception! I pulled back a little bit from last season’s more abstract approach to include hints of instruments. The main display font is Landmark which seems to me to combine a hint of a neon showbiz with solid tradition.
In the last few years I’ve had the opportunity to meet and photograph some of my favourite visiting artists who record for the ECM label in Germany. They’ve also been some of my favourite portrait sessions and I use the occasion to write about and highlight their new releases and concert appearances on my personal blog and on social media. I thought I’d post a few here. Upper left is the awesome trumpet player Avishai Cohen prior to headlining the Chutzpah Festival. Upper right is one of my favourite cellists; Anja Lechner, photographed at the Seattle Art Museum. Lower left is Simin Tander who was here for the Jazz Fest after a stunning performance at Christ Church Cathedral. Finally, lower right, a percussionist with few peers; Thomas Strønen, photographed at Ironworks prior to a recent Jazz Fest engagement.
