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When Giants Walked the Earth

By Allen Mezquida
October 2, 2021
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I'm a jazz musician, animator and artist and traveled the world playing alto saxophone with

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan,

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey,

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie,

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau,

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Charlap and many others. I also worked as an illustrator in New York City. While on the road playing, I occupied my down time drawing in airports and hotel rooms. I then taught myself to animate and moved to Los Angeles and now live in Oak Park, CA with my wife and son while I play jazz, direct short form animation and make art.

This collection of jazz portraits was started during the quarantine of 2020 when I was unable to play live music. It's not a who's who list of jazz greats but rather a collection of the players who have moved me deeply. It's also not a complete list as there are many more musicians and vocalists to be drawn/painted. I avoid copying specific photos in order to render more subjectively my personal view of these musical giants; their nobility, their swagger, their humor and the incredible beauty that poured out of them when they walked the earth. View Slideshow

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