Lee Ritenour Jazz Guitar Performance – Original Photograph

Item Details

California, Copi, Tom (1940–2015) [Photographer], 1980, Black-and-white silver gelatin photograph—Professionally matted

Fine

ORIGINAL VINTAGE SILVER GELATIN PHOTOGRAPH—CAPTURING A RISING MASTER OF JAZZ FUSION.
Original black-and-white performance photograph of acclaimed jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, taken by noted American photographer Tom Copi during a 1980 San Francisco appearance. Photographed in mid-performance, the image captures Ritenour's expressive concentration and effortless command of the instrument, reflecting the energy and optimism that characterized the jazz fusion movement at the beginning of the decade.

The composition balances documentary realism with artistic sensitivity, demonstrating Copi's gift for portraying musicians as both performers and creative personalities.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Original black-and-white silver gelatin photograph. Image approximately 7.5 x 9.5 inches, professionally matted to 10.75 x 13.5 inches. Photographer's ink copyright stamp on the verso.

CONDITION: Fine photograph mounted beneath the original mat; not examined outside the mount. No visible fading, surface marks, or other flaws. Mat and backing remain clean and stable with original tape edges intact.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: Documenting the Golden Age of Modern Jazz.
 During the 1970s and 1980s, Tom Copi emerged as one of America's foremost photographers of jazz, creating an enduring visual record of performers whose music transformed modern jazz. His photographs appeared in leading publications including DownBeat and Rolling Stone, while his portraits of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and numerous others have become part of the visual history of American music.

Lee Ritenour was among the leading voices of jazz fusion, blending jazz improvisation with elements of rock, funk, and rhythm and blues. Produced during the formative years of his international career, this portrait captures an artist whose technical precision and lyrical style helped define contemporary jazz guitar.

Collector's Note: Original Tom Copi photographs of Lee Ritenour are seldom encountered. At the time of cataloguing, no matching image from this performance or photographic session could be located in publicly accessible online archives or image databases, enhancing the appeal of this original vintage print.

Medium: Silver Gelatin Photograph.
Genres: Music Photography, Jazz Photography, Documentary Photography, Fine Art Photography.
Subjects: Tom Copi, Lee Ritenour, Jazz Guitar, Jazz Fusion, American Photography, Music Performance, San Francisco Music Scene, Silver Gelatin Photograph, Jazz History, Original Photograph.

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