B+: Ghostnotes – Music of the Unplayed Book B+

At last, a tome of Brian ‘B+’ Cross’ two-and-a-half decades worth of breathtaking photography. Cross’ work permeates many of our favorite records, from Lab staples like DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing, Yesterday’s New Quintet’s Angles Without Edges, Madlib’s Shades Of Blue and David Axelrod’s self-titled MoWax record (“Big B Plus” is named after the photographer), right up to modern classics by Thundercat (The Beyond / Where The Giants Roam), Flying Lotus (Until The Quiet Comes) and more. Cross quickly aligned himself with Stones Throw Records after they relocated to L.A. from the Bay Area in 2000, and is responsible for some of the label’s most lasting portraits. Jeff Jank says: “B’s photos were so much a part of label’s identity in these years, that we still get asked if all of our photos are by B+, though we’ve worked with dozens of photographers with distinctly different styles.” Cross’ editorial work is nearly as iconic as his record sleeves; in addition to serving as the photo editor for Wax Poetics from 2004 to 2010, he’s been behind the lens for intimate and unforgettable sessions with Eazy E, Lauryn Hill, Nas, J Dilla and many more. Ghostnotes: Music Of The Unplayed is a cross-section of the aforementioned editorial and sleeve photography in addition to Cross’ unpublished work chronicling record dealers and soundsystems around the world. First edition hardcover book containing 200 color photos and essays by Jeff Chang, Greg Tate and Dave Tompkins across 336 pages, recommended.

• hardcover
• 336 pages
• 7 x 7 inches
• 200 color photos
• essays by Jeff Chang, Greg Tate + Dave Tompkins
• published by University Of Texas Press