"The musicians of the Americana genre have always fascinated me because they tell stories. I relate to their songs about the struggles and triumphs of everyday life because my story mirrors their creative journey."
- Jeff Fasano
Great photographs are not made inside a camera, but on either side of it. In the portrait world, the human connection between photographer and subject means everything to conveying a person's essence. Over the past several decades, Jeff Fasano has become one of America's most heralded photographers for his portraits of notable musicians, actors, artists and creative pioneers around the world. With deft use of light and texture, he evokes powerful emotions, and his chosen settings and environments often achieve the cinematic within a single frame. But it's his boundless enthusiasm, curiosity and heart that elevate his work to art. Actor Terrence Howard said it best in what would become a pivotal career-defining moment for Jeff. After reviewing his images from a shoot, Terrence said, "You captured my soul. That's what you do."
In Jeff's first-ever book of photography, "Americana Portrait Sessions," we're treated to nearly 200 iconic Americana musicians, songwriters, producers and pioneers including Kris Kristofferson, Keb' Mo', Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Stills and Judy Collins - as well as 32 Bar Blues featured artists Chris Smither, Bettye LaVette, Marcus King and Suzanne Santo. It's also the first comprehensive view of the Americana genre ever published - a product of Jeff's passion for the music and his inspired move to Nashville devoting his photographic energies to the Americana Music Festival over the past 15+ years. "For me, this book is my dream," he says, "My life's work manifested."
Jeff grew up in New York City, where he began his photography career in earnest when he was 40 years old, after leaving the corporate world to pursue his passion. He learned the craft at New York's Parsons School of Design and has had his work published in many publications including The New York Times, Guitar Player, Paste, InStyle, Time and Rolling Stone.
For a video view of the book and portraits, click here.
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