Max Kesteloot at Nighttimestory

Artist: Max Kesteloot

Exhibition title: A Standard – The real fake book

Venue: Nighttimestory, Los Angeles, US

Date: December 26, 2021 – January 07, 2022

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Nighttimestory, Los Angeles

Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards,and the list of songs deemed to be standards changes over time. Songs included in major fake book publications – sheet music collections of popular tunes and jazz reference works – offer a rough guide to which songs are considered standards. Such as The Real Book, The New Real Book, The Fake Book or 557 Swing & Bepop Standards.
Notes on adaptation. Not every corner can be captured trough a photograph. Not every movement can be shot on video. Not every logo can be painted again.
Not every memory should be brought home.
Not every souvenir should be adapted.

A STANDARD.
A go-to verse, widely known – however adapted from it’s original function. Performed by so many before. Not distinguished by content but by details, the little things, to make the adaptation stand out, or not.

THE REAL FAKE BOOK.
A printed collection of standards. A document that obliges pieces that were once adapted – appropriated – from different cultures, countries as a rule, call it a standard. A piece that was never intended to be performed like that, suddenly changing its status.

-Max kesteloot