Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horn Players, 1983
Paying homage to jazz musicians Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
Executed in 1983, Horn Players by Jean-Michel Basquiat pays homage to legendary jazz musicians Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Much like graffiti and primitivism, jazz music was a major source of inspiration for Basquiat.
When he was young, his father played a lot of jazz and classical music in the house, which developed his passion for music. Besides, jazz, he was also heavily into other genres such as No Wave and Hip Hop. For those unfamiliar with No Wave, it is an avant-garde music genre that originated in New York during the mid-to-late 70s. It mixes different non-rock genres, such as jazz, funk, and blues.
As a matter of fact, Basquiat actually has his own No Wave band, Gray, which was named after his favorite book Gray's Anatomy. He was also involved in the hip-hop scene through his collaboration with Rammelzee and K-Rob in 1983, producing the song "Beat Bop”. However, jazz is what inspired Basquait the most.
The jazz influence quickly made its way into Basquiat’s paintings, with numerous explicit appearances across his catalog. Some notable examples include “King Zulu, 1986”, “Untitled (Stardust), 1983”, and “Untitled (Left Hand–Right Hand), 1984-85”, which shows his love for instruments like saxophone, trumpet, and piano.
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie are two legendary jazz musicians Jean-Michel Basquiat really admired. They are both considered among the best jazz musicians ever, which pioneered the influential style of bebop. For instance, Basquiat’s spontaneous brushstrokes are inspired by the alchemy of jazz improvisation.
Jean-Michel Basquiat always likes to incorporate things he loves into his artwork, in the form of both portraits and words. In Horn Players, 1983, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie take center stage. The massive painting (243.8 x 190.5 cm) comprises three joined canvas panels with a black background, mounted on wood support.
The panel on the left depicts Charlie Parker with his saxophone emitting different red music notes. Below the figure, you will find the word “Ornithology”, which is Parker’s iconic jazz standard recorded in 1946. On the other hand, the words “Pree” and “Chan” are references to Parker’s wife and daughter.
The right panel depicts Dizzy Gillespie in a suit with his trumpet. The words “DOH SHOO DE OBEE” next to him refer to his improvisational singing on stage. Alchemy is also written multiple times, acknowledging the fascinating composition of jazz.
In the upper part of the middle panel, you will see both artists’ names repeated multiple times. Some important words have been purposely crossed out so that they get more attention, which is a recurring theme in Basquiat’s artwork.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, quoted in the book Basquiat-isms:
I cross out words so you will see them more; the fact that they are obscured makes you want to read them.
The painting also subtly referenced Pablo Picasso’s Three Musicians, 1921. As mentioned in the previous article, Picasso played a major role in Basquiat’s development. For instance, both paintings comprise three major subjects.
In the lower part of the middle panel, the exaggerated jaw of the pink head is reminiscent of the central figure in Three Musicians. The composition of the head also took cues from Picasso’s primitive African masks.
Horn Players is not only a tribute to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, but also a prime example of how Jean-Michel Basquiat connects different art forms, draws inspiration, and creates his own distinct artwork.
Great article, really enjoyed being informed about this artist whom I've neglected so far.
Got a couple of quick questions for you:
1. Did B make a study of alchemy or Jungian concepts of alchemy?
2. What do you think of the film with Jeffrey Wright?