Mad Jazz 2019

Milt Kobayashi's painting, "Mad Jazz," captures a scene, maybe from the late twentieth century, with oils on what looks like canvas. You know, looking at this piece, I'm struck by how the blues and browns create such a mood, like a hazy memory. I love the way Kobayashi uses these broad, confident strokes to define the figures, especially the singer, with that splash of blue. The paint isn't trying to hide anything; it's thick and present, like the music itself. Check out how the drums are rendered, just these simple, circular forms. It feels like Kobayashi is inviting us to feel the rhythm, not just see it. This piece reminds me of some of the Ashcan School painters, that same focus on the energy and grit of everyday life, but with its own distinct, jazzy vibe. It's like Kobayashi's saying, art, like music, is always in conversation, riffing on what came before, but finding its own voice.