Buddy Bolden’s Photo

In their 1939 monograph Jazzmen, Frederic Ramsey Jr. and Charles Edward Smith presented the photograph of a sextet from New Orleans which prominently features cornet player identifed as Buddy Bolden. From time its publication, this photo has been subject controversy many unanswered questions. What is correct orientation photograph? are mysterious spherical objects that seen on edge Who leader band? This article presents detailed photographic analysis so-called first jazz photo, proposing solution to an enigma lasted for eighty years. Analysis early processes, history musical instruments portrayed in 19th century photographs, study US clothing organological investigations have helped provide answers riddles Bolden's photography raised.