Bob Linney’s jazz posters: jazz promotion from the 80s

5186

Jazz fans who were fortunate to be around in the days when contemporary arts were generously funded should remember the joyous work of graphic artist Bob Linney.

Bob designed the publicity materials for the UK Arts Council’s contemporary music tours between 1983 and 1989, producing around 70 beautifully illustrated posters and leaflets. 

The colour posters were for headline shows around the country by rarely seen visitors including Anthony Braxton, Don Cherry and Jan Garbarek. 

UK bands like Jazz Warriors, Loose Tubes and John Surman’s Brass Project, who were given the big stage for the first time, also feature.

These and other posters from his archive are now up for sale. They are “overs” from the original print runs and have been stored in plan chests in Bob’s studio since they were printed, so are in excellent condition. 

Most of the posters are A2 and were printed by Holbrooks Printing Company in Coventry, using the “split-duct” offset process. Poster prices start at £30 and they can all be seen at boblinneyposters.com.