• Jon Newey, Editor of Jazzwise:

‘It's a splendid work, such evocative, timeless photos. A window to another world’

• Chris Parker at London Jazz Blog:

With William Claxton and Ray Avery, photographer Bob Willoughby helped define that ever-popular (if slightly misleadingly named) subgenre ‘cool’ or ‘West Coast’ jazz. He did this by searching out and photographing, in their natural environment (clubs and recording studios), the musicians whose playing inspired him as he worked in his darkroom.

Continue reading here: London Jazz Blog - Jazz Body and Soul Review

• Richard Wheatly, Founder Director of Jazz FM says:

“Jazz Body and Soul contains the very best of Bob Willoughby’s work. His images capture the very essence of the jazz greats he photographed. His magic lies in his ability to make you feel you were actually there at the time. You feel the atmosphere, you can hear Chet Bakers notes.”

• Rob says

I have to tell you I ordered Bob Willoughby's book on your recommendation, and it arrived today. Wow, what a beautiful collection of photos and impressive publication - what attention to detail! I'm very impressed, and I thank you for highlighting this book in your blog. It is truly a bargain.

• MJS says

Your posting led me to purchase the volume recently released of Willoughby's B & W jazz portraits. I received it today and am truly impressed with the content, quality and, packaging. It is also as you indicated truly a bargain.

Willoughby's personal commentary on the 50's West Coast jazz scene experienced through his images makes me wish I had been born 10 years earlier in LA instead of NY. The collection in my opinion comfortably places Willoughby alongside other masters of jazz photography like Gottlieb, Leonard, Wolff, Claxton and Avery. It's unfortunate that BobWilloughby did not live to see his work presented with the respect and admiration due his art with this beautiful work. Thanks very much for your personal recommendation.

The only minor criticism I can offer is its erroneously identifying saxophonist Flip Phillips asCharlie Ventura on page 53.

• Jim says

Regular readers of Marc Myers' JazzWax blog most likely saw his Monday edition this week featuring a new collection of jazz photography by Bob Willoughby recently published by Evans Mitchell Books. I placed my order immediately with Amazon and received my copy this afternoon. As Marc noted, this is an exceptional collection of Willoughby's jazz photography and priced at an unbelievable $21.79 on Amazon for this oversize hardbound edition in a slipcase. Heavy gloss coated page stock, flawless reproduction, hard to believe the publisher could produce such a lavish work at this price.

For a long time I have wished that Willoughby would publish more of his jazz photography that was revealed only slightly in his previous book for Nieswand Verlag, JAZZ IN LA. The present book contains many of the same photographs, but there are also previously unpublished photos. The opening page displays a proof sheet from the January 1953 Gerry Mulligan "MODERN SOUNDS" recording session at the Capitol Records Melrose studio. I had seen many of these photos at Getty Images, but it is nice to have them together. The Shrine section features a photo of Flip Phillips that credits the image as being Charlie Ventura and I noticed a few other errors regarding dates.

It is a shame that Willoughby did not live to see this final tribute in published form. He was one of that highest echelon of photographers who had a passion for jazz, William Gottlieb, Dennis Stock, Herman Herman and William Claxton.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

• Sandy says

Bob Willoughby's Jazz Photo book just arrived yesterday.   It is excellent.  Thank you for alerting your readers.  Please keep your blog alive!  It helps make my day!