Only Sonny Rollins and Benny Golson are still alive of the 57 jazz giants assembled to be further immortalized by photographer Art Kane in Harlem in 1958. The saxophone titans will be joined by other luminaries on Thursday for the street co-naming ceremony of E. 126th Street between Madison and 5th Avenue to “Art Kane Harlem 1958 Place.”
Most jazz buffs know the photograph as “A Great Day in Harlem.” And Jonathan Kane, the son of the photographer and author of a book commemorating that momentous occasion will be guest speaker along with Dean Schomburg, board member of the Schomburg Center, and others as they recount how those musicians were assembled with a contingent of children seated on the curb in front of them. You wonder if any of them are still around. The event is from 2 to 4 p.m. with a musical performance by an ensemble led by Patience Higgins