The White House Jazz Festival of 1978 was a historic celebration held on June 18, 1978, hosted by President Jimmy Carter on the South Lawn of the White House. This event commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival and marked one of the first major jazz gatherings at the White House, assembling about 40 of the biggest names in jazz in front of approximately 800 guests.
The festival featured performances by legendary musicians, spanning the evolution of jazz, including Eubie Blake, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Ornette Coleman, Pearl Bailey, Mary Lou Williams, Roy Eldridge, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, George Benson, Stan Getz, and more.
These are my photographs that I shot at the event while an intern at the White House in 1978Grand Mashall of the Young Tuxedo Brass Band of New Orleans Mathew ‘Fats’ Houston at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978
Tenor Sax player Zoot Sims at White House Jazz Festival in 1978.From left: Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, Lionel Hampton, Pearl Bailey and George BensonMuddy Waters at the White House Jazz FestivalFrom White House Jazz Festival in 1978 – President Jimmy Carter attempted to sing Salt Peanuts with Dizzy Gillespie and drummer Max RoachPresident Jimmy Carter at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978 with son Jack Carter and Gregory Stafford with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band of New Orleans.Piano player Eubie Blake at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978Lionel Hampton at White House Jazz Festival in 1978. He was an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandleader In the background is George BensonDizzy Gillespie at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978Drummer Max Roach at the White House Jazz Festival in 1978
I had the privilege of being an intern photographer in 1978 at the White House during the Carter administration. These are some of my favorite images from that summer.
I’ve gone down a long road over my 40+ years as a professional photographer facing many creative challenges. I got my start as an intern photographer at the White House during the Carter administration in 1978. After working on both coasts I’ve ended back in Illinois and focus on documentary work, commercial assignments and portraits. Please contact me at jay@jaybryant.com if you need help with a project or photo assignment. All images are copyright 2025 by Jay Bryant. The website for my consulting work for Mint Collective is at: https://mintcollective.net/
Images from Debbie and Mark’s wedding that I shot at Church by the Side of the Road last weekend. After the ceremony, we did a photo walk at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens in Rockford.
For 72 long years, the family of U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Dale Robert Geddes was unable to say farewell to him with a proper burial.
They finally had that chance on Aug. 22. He was my mother’s cousin.
Geddes was killed during the World War II Battle of Tarawa in the islands in the Pacific. During the fighting, his remains were hurriedly buried. Unfortunately, they were in an area that came to be known as the “Lost Cemetery” because military officials were unable to find it for years.
Then last year, through the work of History Flight and the Stone Foundation, the lost graves were found and among them were the remains of Pvt. Geddes. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency confirmed Tuesday that the remains were those of Geddes.
Had the weekend off and took some pics at the AnimeNEXT convention. My daughter Isabel (below) went as Houndoom. More photos here: http://wirelesstvguide.com/animeNEXT/
I have this yearly habit from all of my years working as a journalist of putting together a end of year wrap-up. So this has been a busy year for me with a lot of poltics, travel, wedding photography and gardening.
