Jazz journalism is alive and well, as JJA members are getting their news and views about the music out in every media platform — locally, nationally and internationally.We never sleep! See the most recent publications and other work reported by the extremely active members of the Jazz Journalists Association after the jump. If you’re a JJA member and want your recent activities included in the next installment of Member Updates, send a brief paragraph beginning with your name to membernews@jazzjournalists.org by May 3, 2018.
Philip Booth interviewed John Patitucci and Jeff Berlin for JazzTimes, and reviewed concerts by Tom Harrell (NYC) and Branford Marsalis (St. Petersburg, FL) for jambands.com. He covered NYC shows by Santi Debriano and Jason Marsalis for jazzlands.com, and regularly reviews CDs for JazzTimes, Jazziz, and Relix. Booth, bassist for Acme Jazz Garage, Swan City Jazz Project, and Zensemble, will soon begin recording a second Acme CD. The group’s 2016 debut gained national reviews and received airplay on 35 U.S. radio stations.
Debbie Burke has added some bench strength to her jazz blog at www.debbieburkeauthor.com! She’s recently interviewed Wycliffe Gordon, Paquito D’Rivera and the Vienna Clarinet Connection, and some jazz surprises like Jay Hung and Martin Archer. On another note, Amazon pre-sales of her new novel GLISSANDO: A story of love, lust and jazz are on the uptick.
Ken Franckling had a busy jazz month in March including reviewing and photographing the 38th annual Sarasota Jazz Festival, trumpeter-singer Dave Pruyn’s Jazz Legacy Big Band in Port Charlotte, pianist Steve Allee in Tampa, singer Alexis Cole in Ruskin, vibes player Warren Wolf with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra at Artis-Naples, and the Bossa Nova All-Stars featuring Harry Allen and singer Maucha Adnet in Venice for his Jazz Notes blog.
Steve Griggs’ script from Blues for John T Williams will be published in Raven Chronicles. Steve will read an excerpt July 12 at Elliott Bay Books in Seattle.
Doug Hall had the opportunity to catch the New England Conservatory Jazz Orchestra celebrating their 150th anniversary. On March 1st, at Jordan Hall, NEC presented a very special tribute celebration to the legacy of Bob Brookmeyer, the legendary jazz musician composer, arranger, conductor, teacher, performer and mentor to many jazz musicians, particularly at NEC. The evening provided a rare opportunity to listen four original orchestral works by former NEC students.
James Harrod is continuing his exploration of Los Angeles jazz clubs that began in 2014 with a look at the Tiffany, Surf Club, and Jazz City. His current feature examines The Haig.
The Japan Times on March 29.
Howard Mandel wrote an introduction to a forthcoming book of William Claxton’s jazz images, a post about the NEA’s support for jazz-related projects at his blog, record reviews for DownBeat, a bit about Von Freeman’s stylistic influences for the Jazz Institute of Chicago, raised funds for the JJA Jazz Heroes and Jazz Awards campaigns and oversaw presentation plans, the nominations ballot and juries for three categories.
Bob Porter will discuss certain aspects of his book Soul Jazz in a talk at the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in Memphis on May 9 at 1pm. The talk will be titled “Jazz and Blues, Friends or Foes.
Travis Rogers, Jr., “The Jazz Owl,” was in New York City in March for the Takeshi Asai Solo-Live in New York, Vol. 2 recording along with Jazz photographer Nicole Shattuck. Travis is writing a review of the concert and has been asked by Asai to write the liner notes for the upcoming album. He also wrote the liner notes for Takeshi’s French Trio, Vol 4. And will write notes for Aimee Allen’s CD release this summer.
Carol Sudhalter is releasing a new CD on baritone sax and flute towards the end of 2018 on the Alfa Music label in Rome. The CD was recorded live at Saint Peter’s Church, NYC, for their series “Midday Jazz Midtown.”
Ed Trefzger is working with a team on the annual JazzWeek Summit, to be held August 9-10, adjacent to the San Jose Jazz Summerfest. The title of the conference is “Creating Jazz Radio Success in the Digital Era.” Attendance is limited to 80, but a small number of press admissions will be available. More information is at jazzweeksummit.com.
Member Updates are edited by Michael J. West. Use our JJA Member Directories to find JJA members qualified to contribute to your publication or production or to assist you with your jazz-related project. The directories can be searched by name, area of expertise and geographic location.
If you aren’t a JJA Member yet, consider joining us. Membership is open to both Professional Journalists (writers, bloggers, photographers, videographers, web producers and others who cover jazz) and Industry Associates (musicians, educators, presenters, promoters and others who work in the industry and support our work.)
