George Wein’s Backstage Photographs

Freddie Hubbard / Photo by George Wein

George Wein, Newport Jazz and Folk founder, Storyville club owner and founder, piano player, and… amateur photographer. With ultimate access to the most iconic musicians of his day, Wein had no shortage of amazing subjects to focus his lens on.

Here, we’re sharing some rarely-seen images from Wein’s personal archives. Looking at these photos that he snapped sometime between 1965 and 1971 at Newport, it’s easy to see that the man with a golden ear and a deep appreciation for music, also had a sharp eye for capturing candid moments of some of the most iconic musicians of the day.

John Coltrane / Photo by George Wein

Dizzy Gillespie / Photo by George Wein

Elvin Jones / Photo by George Wein

Thelonious Monk / Photo by George Wein

Pete Seeger / Photo by George Wein