Lionel Hampton New York, 1946

He didn’t just play the vibraphone — he made the world hear it differently.

This vintage jazz poster captures Lionel Hampton at the Aquarium in New York, ca. June 1946, photographed by William P. Gottlieb — a vivid black-and-white portrait from the height of the swing era, when Hampton’s orchestra was one of the most electrifying in jazz. Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1908, Hampton first discovered the vibraphone while working with Louis Armstrong, and went on to redefine the instrument entirely — bringing it out of the orchestra pit and into the spotlight. As a cornerstone of the Benny Goodman Quartet, one of the first racially integrated jazz groups to perform publicly, and through decades of collaborations with Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker, Hampton shaped the arc of modern jazz. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1996 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. A timeless piece of vintage jazz art, this poster is a perfect jazz lover gift for anyone drawn to the golden age of jazz.

• 3 Sizes: 24×36″ (60×90 cm), 16×24″ (40×60 cm), and 12×18″ (30×45 cm)
• Paper weight: 200 gsm / 80 lb
• Shipped in sturdy packaging to protect the poster
• Ready to frame

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