Jazz greats captured on film on their way to stardom

Jazz has been called the one true American art form, and so perhaps it's fitting that the nation's capital is playing host to a new photo exhibit featuring some of the titans of the genre.

Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and many others were photographed in their heyday by Herman Leonard, a ground-breaking artist who roamed New York's jazz clubs in the 1940s and 1950s to capture the music - and the time.

The BBC went to take a look.

Filmed & Edited by: Olivia Lace-Evans

Produced by: Mat Morrison

Images courtesy of Herman Leonard Photography