Did Valentine’s Day leave you longing for love?
We’ve got some to share! Our hearts and inboxes are overflowing with good news from members, and more jazz journalists joining the JJA network! Newest members include Londoner Alice Hill, who writes for Jazzwise magazine and broadcasts on Jazz Funk Soul Radio; New York’s Robert Levin, a veteran journalist and author of two books; and Emily Springer, who works out of the stealthily swinging town of Montclair, New Jersey.
Please welcome our new members, and extend congratulations with the JJA community to these notable veterans:
Lou Jones was featured on the FRONT PAGE of The Boston Globe with an article that traces his unlikely career in photojournalism. Brian MacQuarrie covers the man who has covered (and revealed) so much for us with his unique voice of photographic storytelling for 50 years! “For Jones, the journey always has been about people, and it has been seasoned with innumerable, practical lessons about how to make those encounters happen.”
Lawrence Peryer celebrated the (golden) SIXTH ANNIVERSARY of the Tonearm on February 6. We are ever-grateful for his contributions to The Buzz (and more) here at JJA! Do you know about this venture? If not, I’d get on it (after these updates). The Tonearm: putting a needle on the cultural wax.
Fiona Ross is FiVE YEARS strong with her founding non-profit Women in Jazz Media, a prolific journalistic effort based in the U.K., and transmitted internationally. Read the magazines, hear what’s on the playlist, catch podcasts, see what’s on the bookcase, plan for events and “Explore, discuss and collaborate with women who work in Jazz Media.” Look for a feature article soon on JJANews!
Ashley Kahn won his second Grammy for Best Album Notes, Miles 55: The Prestige Recordings at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. “Don’t call me a legend, call me Miles Davis.”
More of what your national and international colleagues are up to:
Scott E. Brown is enjoying success presenting his recent publication, Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Jazz Genius of James P. Johnson with more upcoming dates that include book signings: Feb 21 in Baltimore, MD/Virtual Writers LIVE!, Feb 27 in New Haven, CT at Silliman College, and Feb 28 at Jamaica Queens Public Library. Published by University Press of Mississippi, as part of their American Made Music Series.
Stephanie Crease, author of Gil Evans: Out of the Cool— His Life and Music, her award-winning biography of the innovative arranger, composer and bandleader, will be exploring Evans’s life and career in a 5-class series for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing U program starting February 25, 2026.
Thierry De Clemensat of Blue Bayou Radio continues his reviews for Paris Move including: Alexa Tarantino – The Roar And The Whisper (ENG review), Shawn Lovato – Biotic, Isabelle Bodenseh – Dignity, Pat Bianchi – Confluence, and this one (appropriately on Valentine’s Day) Wild Blue Herons – It’s All About Love.
Doug Hall is taking people on a Jazz Journey or for those who prefer staying home, there’s Talk About Jazz with Doug Hall. His two podcasts are available on Allaboutjazz.com, SoundCloud and YT. We’re happy to again welcome Doug, and to hear news of these curated jazz shows!
David Haney made New York Jazz Stories available for viewing, featuring performances and stories from a live show at Joe’s Pub, at the Public in New York featuring David Haney with Joe Lovano, Judi Silvano, Adam Lane, Cheryl Pyle and Jimmy Bennington.
John Edward Hasse wrote two more commentaries for The Wall Street Journal: “Summertime: A Mother’s Transcendent Lullaby,” on the 90th anniversary of Porgy and Bess, and “The Duke’s Expansive Jazz,” on the 75th anniversary of the LP Masterpieces by Ellington. Hasse presented a 50-minute talk at the annual Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans, titled “Jazz Appreciation Month at 25.”
Alice Hill reviewed Xhosa Cole’s FreeMonk project at Cafe OTO on Jazzwise, and don’t miss her weekly radio show, Jazz in the New Age on Jazz Funk Soul Radio (JFSR), broadcasting to an ever-growing global audience!
Sanford Josephson interviewed vocalist Kate Kortum and bassist Brandi Disterheft in the January issue of Jersey Jazz Magazine. He has three New Jersey library presentations in February: “A Look at Black History Through Jazz” on February 2 at the Mendham Township Library, and on February 9 at the Livingston Library; and “Tony Bennett: The Ultimate Interpreter of the American Songbook” on February 18 at the East Brunswick Library.
Howard Mandel with Oliver Lake signed an agreement with SUNY Press to publish Passin’ Thru: The Oliver Lake Reader, date tbd, and though stepped back from President of the JJA, has been working on multiple JJA projects.
Lawrence Peryer has a late entry for a 2025 year-end list, the 10 most-listened to episodes of his podcast, The Tonearm. The top 10 includes jazz and creative music figures like Nels Cline, Robin Holcomb & Peggy Lee, Linda May Han Oh, Ned Rothenberg, Marina Albero and author Jonathan Grasse on Eric Dolphy.
Natalia Rikker and the Uralskiy Dixieland Jazz Ensemble became the heroes of a photo exhibition by Russian photographer Oleg Kargapolov. Oleg is a member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP) and the Association of Photographers “Eurasia” (APE). The exhibition takes place at the Chelyabinsk State Philharmonic Concert Hall, presenting dozens of photographs of famous Russian musicians. These photos were taken during international music festivals in the Chelyabinsk region over the years.
Luciano Rossetti was given a column to highlight his “speaking photo” of Enrico Rava in Podium Magazine, featuring Roscoe Mitchell and Famoudou Don Moye on the cover, and participated in a photo exhibition celebrating the 90th birthday of master composer Arvo Pärt at Bergammo Città Alta, Tempietto di Santa Croce (Italy). His photos can be seen on a variety of cultural magazine covers, including this one on Musica Jazz, featuring Jack DeJohnette. Yes, there’s more! Pipeline’s new album, Ahead of July is out now on WE INSIST! RECORDS with photos by Luciano. His photojournalism coverage of multiple international Jazz Festivals includes the sold-out 39th edition of the Unlimited Music Festival (Austria), published in All About Jazz.
Carol Sudhalter traveled around her favorite country, playing in alternative venues and meeting unforgettable characters. Her writing and photos, “On the Road: Alternative Venues in Italy” are featured now on JJA News. After reading this article, I guarantee you’ll be hungry for international Jazz and more!
Jesse “Chuy” Varela is now serving as Program/Music Director at KCSM JAZZ 91, the SF Bay Area’s jazz radio station. He recently conducted radio interviews with Edward Simon, Steven Oquendo and Julia Keefe, to name a few. You can find them at the Internet Archive.
Michael J. West covered the Jazz Congress and Winter Jazz Fest for DownBeat, for whom he also wrote obituaries for Ralph Towner, Richie Beirach and Ken Peplowski. He covered the ongoing self-immolation of the Kennedy Center for Washington City Paper.
Regional map, Wikivoyage
