I was approached by a local business improvement organization to create a mural on a prominent wall in downtown Red Bank, New Jersey. Jazz pioneer Count Basie is the most famous former resident of Red Bank, and as the available wall was located across from the Count Basie Center for the Arts, I suggested a Basie-themed mural. I preferred an image that would command attention in monochrome, and that showcased the musician’s artistry. There was the challenge of how to accommodate windows, a street lamp, wires, and other irregularities that are part of a living building. I planned the composition with these irregularities in mind, so that they would enhance the image rather than impede it.
Selected articles about this mural are linked below.
https://tworivertimes.com/artisthonorsredbanksowncountbasiewithastrikingmural/