About Us
SOPHISTICATED. CURATED. COOL.
Welcome to The Jazz Dive.
Our original Jazz Art designs are by our founder Allen Mezquida. Not only is he a visual artist, he's also an alto saxophonist who has shared the stage with Gerry Mulligan, Brad Mehldau, Mark Murphy, Bill Charlap, and Kamasi Washington among others. In between gigs, Allen channels his passion for design, drawing and animation into creating the portraits of the players who continue to inspire. Four of his portraits hang in the newly opened Jazz Cultural club on 46th St NYC. He is currently contributing motion design and animation to a doc film about The Manhattan Transfer directed by Denny Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew) , slated for a 2026 release.
When creating artwork for The Jazz Dive, Allen draws from multiple sources and archival videos. He crafts each portrait through numerous pencil-and-paper sketches, resulting in an original multi-media image that stands apart. It's never derivative and always unique.
The other half of our founding duo is writer, photographer and audio maker Karen X Fritsche. With a background as a producer for NPR, Karen brings a wealth of narrative expertise to The Jazz Dive. In addition to her story chops and critical eye for composition, she takes care of business, approaching challenges with the ingenuity of a hacker.
OUR INSPIRATION.
The Jazz Dive is an independent art studio at the intersection of jazz and mid-century modern design. Inspired by the counterculture music from the 1950s and 60s, we create art that resonates with both eyes and ears.
The extraordinary musicians from this era, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Bill Evans, to name a few, pioneered an artistic revolution and believed that uniqueness is the truest measure of a creative life. We agree. This is why our always growing collection (this is by no measure a definitive list) captures the essence of these legends, immortalizing their individual voices and personal styles.
OUR MENU.
HONEST. SOULFUL. REAL.
As machines and AI redefine what it means to be creative, The Jazz Dive celebrates humans making extraordinary things. This is why all of our pieces start with pencil and paper. We aim to make art that isn't just seen, it's felt.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.
Whether you're a hardcore bebopper or just dig retro design, The Jazz Dive merges music and art in a personal vision that strives to add to the legacy of classic jazz.
Friends, blogs and sites we support.
