Love and Understanding: The Jazz Photography of Don Schlitten

Don Schlitten was working as a photographer and commercial artist in New York City when he co-founded Signal Records in 1955. When Signal was folded into Prestige Records shortly thereafter, Bob Weinstock, head of Prestige, enlisted Don to produce music, photograph musicians, and design album covers. His name graces the album covers of over 400 records produced between the 1950s and 1980s, either as producer, photographer, or album designer, often all three.

This book features over 100 photos, personally selected by Don Schlitten as his personal best, many unseen, others familiar as album covers but given new context in their original format. Featuring icons of jazz like Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins, and Frank Sinatra, it also includes candid photos of such unsung giants of jazz as Booker Ervin, Eric Dolphy, Mal Waldron, Don Patterson, Etta Jones, and Sonny Criss and more.

The book includes a biographical essay written by jazz scribe Ted Panken with an introduction by the "Jazz Detective" himself, Zev Feldman. As an extra bonus, this book features an American Splendor comic strip that features Don educating Harvey Pekar, as well as a gallery of Don's personal favorite top 30 album covers.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Published: 08/25/2026
ISBN: 9798875000645
Pages: 128

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2026