Panama is not known for its jazz scene, and currently there isn’t really a conversation about jazz in the small Central American nation. But Danilo Pérez, through his stewardship of the Panama Jazz Festival and the Danilo Pérez Foundation, is beginning to impact and slowly change this reality by attracting world-class talent and institutionalizing community-oriented music projects.

As a journalist … [read more]

At the Jazz Journalists Association’s “New Media for New Jazz” conference, two town hall-style forums focused on how jazz journalists and presenters and musicians can work together for the good of all, and especially for the good of the music.   Part of the impetus for this discussion was the JJA’s new video project, eyeJAZZ (www.eyejazz.tv) in which journalists will be … [read more]

[Editor’s note: This piece is in reply to Howard Mandel’s book review, posted December 20, 2010.]

Let’s start with what my book is about. It recounts how several jazz writers from the late 1930s (the dawn of jazz writing) to the present day have attempted to impose extra-musical agendas on the music. The book meticulously documents the many … [read more]

On January 10, 2011, the Library of Congress announced its acquisition of a trove of recorded music from the vaults of Universal Music Group (UMG), spanning the years 1926-1948. The New York Times recently ran a story by Larry Rohter on the acquisition.

What is the true significance of this “mile of music”? We asked the JJA’s Larry Appelbaum, jazz … [read more]

“Jazz Video Guy” Bret Primack, an eyeJAZZ instructor, explains the eyeJAZZ Training Program in this video, made with the same pocket camera that will be used in the program. Here’s how YOU can apply. Applications accepted until February 15.

… [read more]

The Best Music Writing series editor has called for submissions for its 2011 edition, to be guest edited by New Yorker music critic Alex Ross, and the Nieman Fellowship applications deadline is January 31 for journalists who want to spend a year in financially-supported study at Harvard.

Daphne Carr, whose annual anthology of music writing has been published by Da … [read more]

The JJA’s “New Media for New Jazz” conference got off to a quick and productive start on Friday and Saturday with a well-attended panel introducing eyeJAZZ.tv, a lively cocktail party, interesting session on “The New Feature: Long Form Journalism Now” and a very well attended, lively and engaging discussion of the “State of Jazz Journalism Now and Immediate Prospects.” Further … [read more]

Hello fellow jazz writers,

I am writing to share some good news! WBGO, 88.3 FM in Newark, New Jersey, has recently created a new staff position, Digital Content Editor, which I have been hired to fill. Part of my new job description is to develop services at the WBGO website that can serve our listeners and jazz fans across the world. One of the … [read more]

Compiled by W. Royal Stokes and Ken Franckling

[This list has been updated.]

JOHN NORRIS, BILL DIXON, JOHN DANKWORTH, HERB ELLIS, MIKE ZWERIN, GENE LEES, LENA HORNE, HANK JONES, FRED ANDERSON, BENNY POWELL, WILLEM BREUKER, MITCH MILLER, ABBEY LINCOLN, HERMAN LEONARD, BUDDY COLLETTE, MARION BROWN, MONTY SUNSHINE, TRUDY PITTS, JAMES MOODY, JACK TOWERS, BILLY TAYLOR

Trumpeters Harry Beckett, John Evers, … [read more]

As arts correspondent for Charles Kuralt’s CBS Sunday Morning, musical director of the David Frost Show, and broadcaster on WNEW and WLIB radio among others, Dr. Billy Taylor made invaluable contributions to jazz journalism, even in the midst of his storied career as a jazz pianist.

Tributes to the late Dr. Taylor are rolling in across the web – Marc … [read more]