Dan Morgenstern, jazz journalist, turns 90

Dan Morgenstern has known ‘em all. If he wasn’t having coffee with Charlie Parker or watching Chano Pozo’s amazing Latin show live at the Apollo with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band, then he was at the bar when Hot Lips Page passed out and fell off the stage, was helped up and scolded by Big Sid Catlett (and then, ironically, Sid goes and dies just days later). Or he’s at Louis Armstrong’s home drinking Slivovitz plum brandy with Louis, chatting the night away.

Morgenstern turns 90 years young on October 24, 2019. From the moment he landed in NYC in 1947, 17-years-old and too young to get into a jazz club, he’d hang outside the clubs on the street just to listen to Thelonious Monk, Bird, Diz, and Lester Young. He loaded up on records, too, Musicraft Jazz 78s – 5 for $1.00 – at S. Klein’s on the Union Square. He discovered Symphony Sid McCoy at the tail end of the AM radio dial, and tuned in to the Royal Roost live broadcasts, the “Metropolitan Bopera House” with Bird, Diz, Fats Navarro, Dexter Gordon, Tadd Dameron and Max Roach. After hangin’ with Miles Davis, Morgenstern wrote if he had a bedroom like Miles, he’d never leave. He remembers after the Baroness Nica de Koenigswarter, lost a drag race in Manhattan at 3 a.m. against Davis’s Ferrari, she traded in her Rolls for the famous Bentley just to beat him. And, of course, Dan was backstage at Carnegie Hall with Bird and Diz smoking a joint!

His stories are full of life, rich with intimate, quirky and funny details, and always include a musician’s perspective.  Now, 70 plus-years later, 1947 to 2019, we send our love, our admiration, and gratitude to the person who lived the stories, and told us all about it. Happy Birthday, Dan!

Morgenstern occupies a special position in the professional honor roll of JJA, as recognized by his being honored in 2001 as recipient of its Jazz Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism. He is rightly recognized for develoing a unique style of jazz journalism as an engaging story-teller, teaching us the way to hear jazz, what to listen for and how to understand it. He has become the gold standard for generations of writers, critics, and musicians. Morgenstern doesn’t play an instrument (although on occasion he might sing) but he has translated for us the tools and language that the jazz pros use. His reviews and essays explain details of the forms of tunes, the bridges, tags, vamps, key changes, instrument ranges, when and how mistakes were made, how brilliant ideas occurred spontaneously, and even explained practical matters like how a drummer might conveniently “forget” his bass drum at a recording session, just so he could still make his gig later.

Morgenstern was back in the day, and is still now, a street-savvy intellectual. He began his journalism career as the 1953 copy editor for the Brandeis student newspaper, The Justice. Within one year he was promoted to managing editor, then editor-in-chief (1955-56) and editorial advisor (1956). His early articles on international diplomacy, Shakespeare, poetry, philosophy, and socialism include his first jazz review of Stan Getz and Bob Brookmeyer, April 27, 1955.

Since 2018 I’ve been doing research under a NEA grant to commemorate Dan Morgenstern’s career. The Dan Morgenstern Collection is the most complete repository of “Everything Dan.” The collection has several new areas documenting Morgenstern’s life and career.

148 record reviews as DownBeat editor

During his 10 year stint as editor at DownBeat — New York editor 1964 to 1966, and chief editor from 1967 to 1973 — Morgenstern wrote 148 record reviews and managed a team of renowned writers, musicians, and reviewers including Don DeMicheal, Kenny Dorham, Barbara Gardner, Bill Mathieu, Marian McPartland, Harvey Pekar, William Russo, Harvey Siders, Pete Welding, John S. Wilson and Michael Zwerin.

In his 2018 tribute to Dan, Michael Cuscuna recalls his first review for DownBeat: “I sent it to Dan, who was still in Chicago, at the time. And it came back, you know, full of red ink. And I just dove into it, and in spending two hours with that manuscript and his comments and his changes, I learned more about writing than two years of creative writing in journalism than courses could ever give me.”

Ted Panken describes Dan’s reviews: “…his marvelously detailed, and ebullient, and loving liner notes. You are reading someone who is an extreme fan, and someone who has a very strongly typed aesthetic. And someone who really gets into the granular aspect of listening to music on these notes.”

The Morgenstern: Down Beat Record Reviews are a complete source of classic vinyl LP album covers, displaying the great artwork for each artist. They may be clicked to reveal Dan’s review in a text- searchable PDF, a link to the music on YouTube and a Wikipedia/Discogs background entry.

There are five star reviews for so many albums and artists that you can spend hours and hours here. Morgenstern is one of the strongest proponents of classic jazz, and artists including Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie are well represented. But he covered new artists, too, like Randy Brecker’s debut album Score (including the prediction, “His younger brother Michael, who here makes his recording debut, has fire and guts…he will become a player to reckon with”).

He lavishes praise upon Weather Report’s eponymous debut in a three-page review: “An extraordinary new group merits an extraordinary review…The music of Weather Report is music beyond category. All I can add to what has been said by the men who made it is that it seems to me music unlike any other I’ve heard, music that is very contemporary but also very warm, very human, and very beautiful.”

Morgenstern could be tough, too, as when he gave one raspberry in 1970 to the Zeet Band for Moogie Woogie, calling the Moog synthesizer “this questionable invention.”

There’s also a surprising side to Morgenstern’s open-mindedness, as when he takes the time to review and rate highly the Beatles Abbey Road, extolling the Lennon and McCartney partnership, great melodies, and the superb production work by George Martin. “Is there anyone who doesn’t like the Beatles?… it can all be summed up in that old, unfashionable phrase ‘good taste’ — plus genuine musicality and poetic imagination.”

Many artists, nearly forgotten, garnered his five star record reviews during Morgenstern’s reign at DownBeat and so deserve to be re-evaluated.

8 Grammy winning essays for record albums

Morgenstern‘ award-winning Grammy essays for vinyl LP record and cd collections began in 1973 and extended through 2010. They cover five decades of jazz. In the 1970s he won three Grammys, first for Art Tatum’s God Is In The House. Morgenstern not only knew Tatum well, but presented him as a soloist for the first time, for which Tatum was extremely grateful. Dan described the pianist’s album as
“one of the most remarkable pieces of improvised jazz music ever captured by a recording device.”

In 1974 he annotated Coleman Hawkins’ The Hawk Flies. “Hawk” (or “Bean” to many of his musician friends) and Morgenstern were good friends, and as Dan shows with his respect, understanding and love in a poignant tribute.

In 1976 he wrote about The Changing Face of Harlem. No one knows Harlem jazz, the way it was and what it has become, better than Dan Morgenstern. He lived it. He lovingly remembers the swing, the “jump,” and the bebop of Harlem in this detailed compilation of Harlem jazz from the early Savoy sessions.

In 1981 Dan won the Grammy for album notes to Erroll Garner, Master of the Keyboard. This two-record set contains 30 Garner performances between 1961 and 1970. Morgenstern’s essay, introduction, personnel listing, recording dates, and his personal friendship and recollections of pianist Garner are a definitive example of fine jazz journalism, coupling detailed research with loving devotion for a superlative musician. (An aside: This was a Book of the Month record, long out of print. After long searching I found a copy in a Catholic school for women, which I borrowed to as to transcribe Dan’s notes.)

In the 1990s Morgenstern won two more Grammys: in 1990 for Clifford Brown: The Complete Emarcy Recordings (Dan wrote: “The annals of jazz can supply material for dozens of tragedies — some self-inflicted, some caused by the whims of fate. But none seems more senseless and arbitrary than the death of Clifford Brown (not yet 26 years old).” This collection is painstakingly assembled by renowned reissue producer Kiyoshi Koyama, a lifelong friend of Morgenstern’s.

In 1994, writing about Louis_Armstrong – Portrait-of-the-Artist-as-a-Young-Man-1923-1934 Morgenstern provided musical commentaries on each track, as well as the definitive essay on Armstrong’s early life. After 2000, Dan undertook more writing assignments of essays for cd compilations, including in 2006 Fats Waller & His Rhythm -If You Got to Ask, You Ain’t Got It!  Dan’s abilities to understand a professional musician, his wonderful storytelling, historical precision, wealth of detail, and personal recollections elevated what had been mere album notes to full-fledged essays.

Filmography

An often overlooked aspect of Morgenstern’s career, his contributions to film and tv, especially jazz documentaries, need more recognition. His broad work in jazz documentaries as writer, advisor, music consultant, and cast member include:

• 2001 Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns – Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys – Morgenstern: Advisor, Music Consultant
• 2011 Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns – Morgenstern: Advisor, Music Consultant
• 2006 Duke Ellington: Reminiscing in Tempo – Morgenstern: Cast Member
• 1988 Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser – Morgenstern: (additional thanks – as Dan)
• 2018 The Jazz Ambassadors – Morgenstern: Special Thanks
• 2019 Play That, Teo – Morgenstern: Cast member – Himself
• 2018 It Must Schwing – The Blue Note Story – Morgenstern: Cast Member – Himself
• 2015 The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith – Morgenstern: Interviewee
• 2015 The Pleasures of Being Out of Step – Morgenstern: Cast member – Himself
• 2011 Finding Carlton – Uncovering the Story of Jazz in India – Morgenstern: Advisor
• 2015 Billie Holiday: A Sensation – Morgenstern: Cast Member – himself
• 1977 Les rendez-vous du dimanche – Morgenstern: Cast: Himself (as Dan)
• 2001 Billie Holiday: Sensational Lady – Morgenstern: Cast member – Himself, jazz historian
• 1969 Coleman Hawkins: In Memoriam – Morgenstern – Host
• 1977 The Mike Douglas Show – Morgenstern: Cast: Himself – Jazz Critic
• 1991 Sarah Vaughan: The Divine One – Morgenstern: Writer

Artist Video Portraits

I’ve produced a few new videos with Dan narrating his personal recollections of Gillespie, Holiday, Dameron, Symphony Sid, Baroness Nica, “Big” Sid, and more! They are CC Close Captioned, and the transcript is text searchable.

Portrait of Baroness Nica

Dan recalls the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter. A patron of bebop and devotee of Monk, her generosity extended to other musicians, as well, providing food, safe haven and money to get pawned instruments back. Her apartment on Manhattan’s ritzy Fifth Avenue was an after-hours place to hang out and jam until she was forced to leave after Charlie Parker died there. Many musicians have paid tribute to her generosity with songs dedicated to her in name or spirit (e.g., Monk’s ‘Pannonica’ and ‘Bolivar Blues’).

Dan on “Big” Sid Catlett 

Sidney “Big Sid” Catlett (January 17, 1910 – March 25, 1951) was an American jazz drummer. Catlett was one of the most versatile drummers of his era, adapting with the changing music scene as it progressed toward bebop.

Dan on Record Collecting Morgenstern remembers the stores, junk shops, magazines, collectors, and, of course, the records of the 1940’s and ’50s.

Dan on Billie Holiday He remembers seeing and hearing Billie Holiday perform live, and the remarkable magic in her skill of expressing emotion.

Dan Recalls Dizzie Gillespie and all his fellow musicians

Dan on Tadd Dameron He cultivated a friendship with bebop’s “Romantic” arranger

Dan on Jazz Radio 1947 with Symphony Sid He recalls his first night in NYC in 1947, finding jazz on the radio.

Dan on Eddie Durham, San Marcos, Texas’ native jazz legend in “The Arranging and Compositional Pen of Southwestern Jazz,” assisted by Phil Schapp and Loren Schoenberg. I have sponsored Morgenstern as keynote speaker at an annual Eddie Durham Celebration in Durham’s home town for the last 13 years.

Interviews

People have been interviewing Morgenstern for decades. His insights are invaluable.

• Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program Dan’s early life in Europe, eluding Nazis, and his first encounter with jazz;
• NEA JAZZ MASTERS Interview by Molly Murphy with Katja von Schuttenbach;
• Morgenstern Interviews by Michael Steinman These are recent, and priceless; they are all over YouTube, so they have been collected here;
• The Jazz Loft Project Radio Series;
• Interviews: General an assortment of interviews with Dan on various topics.

Other research areas in The Dan Morgenstern Collection include his lectures (includes Library of Congress Jazz Scholar Lecture Series, a forum On The History Of The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and a rare discussion from Dan on the dying art of liner notes in the music world, and tributes (from people who have worked with Morgenstern in the record industry, as writers, producers and contributors to DownBeat when Dan was senior editor.

Editor | Author | Producer Don’t fail to see Dan’s lost NY Jazz Museum events programs.

The Institute of Jazz Studies includes Dan’s video tour of the institute.

Dan and Louis Armstrong’s close relationship Morgenstern speaks of the Armstrong tribute at the Newport Jazz Festival, and discusses the Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions.

I am this year’s winner of the FY2020 Morroe Berger-Benny Carter-Edward Berger Jazz Research Fellowship Award at the Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS) for my work on Dan. I am meeting with Vincent Pelote at IJS, and we are researching Dan’s missing historical items, and we’ll get them added online to the Dan Morgenstern Collection. I hope to add more and more about Dan!

Dan was surprised when I sent him the link to his collection in August 2019.

He wrote back:

“Dear Hank,
This is truly amazing! I had no inkling of this and after catching my breath am of course delighted and flattered. Amazed at what you’ve uncovered and think I can fill in a few gaps. A nice man sent me a few WBGO show he’d taped years ago, and the Just Jazz shows that survived are at IJS, it took decades to get them uncovered. I have of course done a huge number of liner notes and never attempted to collect. But there’s a box of duplicate LPs that I put together while still at IJS that may survive. I also have a very few WBGO Jazz from the Archives items and Vincent at IJS will know if the reels we salvaged (the station never archived anything as far as I know). Loren and I did stuff on WKCR he might have. But what you already have gathered is astonishing!

Thanks so much and hope to see you soon, Dan

Dan Morgenstern can’t be thanked enough for the love and hard work, and advocacy he has devoted to jazz and the chance for us all to be a part of his amazing journey through a lifetime of astonishing experiences. After all is said and done, we want to wish Dan the happiest 90^th birthday.