Günther Kieser’s Jazz Posters

by Pierre Vudrag on Friday, March 20, 2015

Whether you’re a fan of jazz music or just into great graphics you’ll fall in love with German poster artist Günther Kieser’s work.  Considered the most important German designer of jazz and rock posters, Kieser’s style is instantaneously recognizable, yet undefined, combining the use of photography and linocuts, Kieser tended to contribute graphic qualities that relied heavily on drawing and collage.  Kieser’s posters have been shown at the Museum für Kunsthandwerk, in Frankfurt, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and at galleries around the world from Mexico to Poland, and China.  Here are sample of some of Kieser’s Jazz posters from the 1960’s and 1970’s which are available on Limited Runs.

This Oscar Peterson Trio – 1965 German Tour poster was released in 1965 and features a collage of portraits of Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen.  Designed by Gunther Kieser for the trio’s 1965 German concert tour.
Keiser used photographs as the basis for his designs but incorporated graphic elements over them to create memorable images which mystified the jazz great he was designing for.

This very large and rarer concert poster designed by Gunther Kieser in collaboration with Hans Michel for the Jazz At The Philarmonic 1960 German tour featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Giuffre and Roy Eldridge.

This poster for the Berlin Jazz Festival 1971 – Miles Davis is one of the rarest Miles Davis concert poster which features an amazing portrait of Davis was designed by Gunther Kieser for the 1971 Berlin Jazz festival. 

Duke Ellington – Frankfurt 1973 Another beautiful design by Gunther Kieser for Duke Ellington’s last German tour in 1973.

Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie – Dusseldorf 1971 – Great poster with black & white photos of Ella and Count Basie for their joint concert in Dusseldorf , Germany.

 

Gunter designed many posters for Ella Fitzgerald including these:

Ella Fitzgerald – German Tour 1968

 

 

 

 

Ella Fitzgerald – Dusseldorf 1967

Note the diference in styles in just one year, the hippie movement of the late 60’s is integrated into the design for the 1968 poster.

Essen Jazz Festival 1960 – this is a very rare vintage poster designed by Kieser for the Essen Jazz Tage festival in 1960 which featured the great Dave Brubeck and Quincy Jones.

Check out all of Gunther Kieser’s work available on Limited Runs click here.

See more vintage Jazz posters available on Limited Runs.

Sign-up for our newsletter and get news, updates and special offers

For lovers of Vintage Posters, Photography and Art — Limited Runs!

Limited Runs, the premier destination for discovering and buying the best in original vintage posters, print art and fine art photography, continues to add new items to the site every day and each week we feature some of our latest additions of original vintage film, advertising and rock posters, art prints and photography.

Follow Limited Runs on:

Related Posts