John Adams
Maximum Minimalist
If you’re going to make a name for yourself, starting out with an already trademarked American moniker like John Adams might seem like a handicap; it’ll take something truly extraordinary to attain distinction and disambiguation. Indeed, the talent of a boy who grew up playing the clarinet in his high school marching band to become one of the world’s preeminent composers may ultimately give the Founding Father a run for his reputation.
What else the two John Adamses have in common are their New England roots and the laurels of Harvard. Lacking any eponymous connections myself, I had the brotherhood of Buffet-Crampon in common with the composer: That’s the Strad of various brands of clarinets we both played at one time, albeit my meager renown remains, today, a far cry from his six honorary doctorates, five Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize, and many additional bibelots of prestige. The clarinet was an icebreaker; that and the view from my house in Sausalito. I told Adams, who was by this time living in Oakland, that he could see his house across the Bay from my deck. I suggested that we shoot some pictures there.
It was another assignment from Time that offered me the privilege to photograph John, whom, frankly, I hadn’t heard of in 1987. I think I suggested shooting at my house because I already had my lights and camera set up in my living room for…
