Announcing The Jazz Omnibus: 21st-Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association, a unique anthology to be published in ebook and print-on-demand paperback and hardcover editions on October 15 by Cymbal Press.
A team effort featuring 90 contributors, compiled by editor David Adler, photography editor Patrick Hinely, copy chief Terri Hinte and editorial consultant Howard Mandel with Fiona Ross and Martin Johnson as submission readers, The Jazz Omnibus is dedicated to the memory of jazz scholar and chronicler Dan Morgenstern (1929-2024). The 600-page volume features 69 articles, 23 black and white photos, and an extensive selected bibliography. It is currently available for pre-publication orders in all formats at Amazon.com and directly from Cymbal Press.
Sponsors underwriting the book’s promotion include Berklee School of Music’s Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice; Impulse!, Verve and Blue Note Records; and the Jazz Foundation of America; funds from sales will contribute to covering the non-profit, membership-supported JJA’s general operating expenses.
The Jazz Omnibus is unrivaled as a collection self-selected “best works” by the far-flung members of the JJA, ]including international reports, interviews with major figures, profiles of emerging artists, biographical and analytical essays, memoirs and reviews, portraits and action photography.
Wide in scope, The Jazz Omnibus includes among its many highlights:
- an up-close and personal hang with Sonny Rollins by Ted Panken;
- probing interview with Keith Jarrett by Michael Jackson;
- appreciation of Carla Bley by Suzanne Lorge;
- conversation with Wynton Marsalis by Doug Hall;
- Leslie Pintchik on the thrills of performing, “In Play”;
- re-appraisals of Amy Winehouse by Ted Gioia and Sun Ra by Nate Chinen;
- excerpts of Deanna Witkowski’s Mary Louis Williams: Music for the Soul, Willard Jenkins’ Aint But a Few of Us and Mike Longo’s memoirs, in his voice by his widow Dorothy Longo;
- Mirian Arbalejo’s impassioned declaration “I Do Write So Let Me Write”;
- George Wein’s obituary by Peter Keepnews;
- Ashley Kahn’s award-winning “The New Jazz Emigrés” on American musicians in Europe today.
by Enid Farber
by Jack B. Siegel
A gallery of photos interspersed among texts include Andrea Canter’s portrait of Abdullah Ibrahim, Enid Farber’s previously unpublished portrait of Masked Musicians, Jack B. Siegel’s capture of “Ramsey Lewis’ Last Note” as well as Lauren Deutsch’s dynamic, full-color cover “Tangible Sound” Image of Roscoe Mitchell playing soprano saxophone.
Pre-publication endorsements of The Jazz Omnibus from estimable sources:
- “I was going to write that The Jazz Omnibus is essential for your library, but then I realized that The Jazz Omnibus really is a library. It serves a tasty range of sharp writing . .. You will spend many happy years thinking about what you have read in this book.” — A.B. Spellman, poet, author, critic, namesake of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy;
- “The Jazz Omnibus is the most entertaining, illuminating anthology of its kind to appear in this century. . .united by the cool breeze of honest enthusiasm.” — Gary Giddins, author, critic, 2025 NEA Jazz Master;
- “The Jazz Omnibus gathers some of the most exciting writing by a diverse group of contributors . . Readers are sure to savor it, whether returning to a favorite piece or a discovering new thoughts on new artists. Either way, it’s a wonder.” — Farah Jasmine Griffin, author and Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African American Studies at Columbia University;
- “If you love this music and those who write about it as much as I do, you will not be able to put this indispensable anthology down.” — Ricky Riccardi, Louis Armstrong House Museum Director of Research Collections, Grammy-winning author;
- “What a gift to all of us from the members of the Jazz Journalist Association. The Jazz Omnibus takes us on a journey through jazz history with new visual and written perspectives. . . This is bound to be an invaluable resource for jazz lovers, educators, students, musicians, audiences, supporters — hop on the bus, you won’t regret it.” — Monika Herzig, pianist/ composer/author/professor of Artistic Research, Jam Music Lab University, Vienna.
