The greatest album covers of jazz
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Published 2018-11-19
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When asked to visualize what jazz looks like, you might picture bold typography, two tone photography, and minimal graphic design. If you did, you’re recalling the work of a jazz label that single-handedly defined the “look” of jazz music in the 1950s and1960s: Blue Note.
Inspired by the ever present Swiss lettering style that defined 20th century graphic design (think Paul Rand), Blue Note captured the refined sophistication of jazz during the early 60s, particularly during the hard bop era, and gave it a definitive visual identity through album covers.
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Note: The headline for this video has been updated since publishing.
Previous headline: How one designer created the "look" of Jazz
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All Comments (21)
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Props to the vox graphic designer who had to re-design all these covers for the purpose of animation.
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Would love a coffee table book of Blue Note album covers....
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The VOX graphic designers and editors are the real MVPs!
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The editing and graphics on this clip are FANTASTIC!
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As a visual artist, and someone who plays and listens to jazz regularly, I absolutely loved this video. I hope this series continues and is popular so you guys have more opportunity with it.
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The guys names were Wolf and Lion? That's the coolest partnership I've ever heard!
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This series is outstanding. Vox really produces some of the best videos on YouTube.
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Your motion design department is composed of gods. Just FYI.
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How in the world was this story edited?!
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that powerful combination of typography and photography is something i've always found very compelling, it's interesting to see that this has some origins in jazz
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I love the way you guys animated the typography of the albums. The movements are great, the jerky frame rate gives this a very vintage character. I also like the way it's edited. The music, the motion design sequences, the interviews and the narration are very well intertwined. Makes it easy to feel the creativity that you guys are talking about. Great work!
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The day Vox makes a documentary about contemporary dance or dancers I’ll be the happiest person ever
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Love jazz, love Earworm. This video is the perfect combination
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Fun Fact: Rudy Van Gelder was actually an eye doctor who started out recording local artists part-time at his parents' house in Hackensack
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Reid needs an exhibition in a museum fr his art is amazing
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The blue note archivist is like a dream job
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I want more jazz!!!
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This episode is great! I am mad that it is so short.
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Such a cool story, I love these covers and now I know why they are so wonderful and intimate at the same time
