Paul Lesniak

I came upon this composition while visiting friends at their vacation home in Lang Bay, British Columbia. The place is full of wonderful old furniture, accessorized with the detritus of a 2-year-old child. He would walk around with one binky in his kisser and one in each hand, so everywhere you might expect to find a doily or an antimacassar, you’d find a comfort tool. (He also finds solace in oysters and brie cheese.)

The San Francisco Jazz Festival, now in its 19th year, begins Wednesday night.

The two-weeks program includes performances by McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Charlie Haden, Etta James, Joe Louis Walker, Rosemary Clooney, Dave Brubeck, Terry Riley, Bobby Short, Bill Frisell, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette, among many others.

To note the festival’s opening, Salon presents a gallery of extraordinary photography by Paul Lesniak. Earlier this year, Lesniak haunted the shows of the SFJAZZ Spring Season 2001, a panorama of concerts presented each year by SFJAZZ, the jazz fest’s umbrella organization.