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 January 3, 2017.
Dan Bilawsky reviewed new albums from Michel Camilo, Hilary Gardner/Ehud Asherie, Steve Slagle, and Jazz At The Ballroom for All About Jazz. In addition, November saw the publication of Dan’s review of the Alan Ferber Big Band’s Grammy-nominated Jigsaw in JAZZed Magazine.
Jane Ira Bloom performed “Interhere” with the Sarah Weaver Ensemble at the DiMenna Center, Mary Flagler Cary Hall, 450 W. 37th St. NYC on Sat, Dec 16, 9:00pm. The Ensemble featured Yoon Sun Choi, voice; Julie Ferrara, oboe; Sara Schoenbeck, bassoon; James Zollar, trumpet; Jane Ira Bloom , soprano sax; Min Xiao-Fen, pipa; Ned Rothenberg, alto saxophone, bass clarinet; David Taylor, bass trombone; Denman Maroney, piano; Mark Dresser, bass; Gerry Hemingway, percussion; and Sarah Weaver, conductor, composer..
Stephanie J. Castillo, Emmy-winning filmmaker, reports that her film Night Bird Song about the late NYC jazz great from the 80’s-90’s Thomas Chapin will be released for cable TV, streaming platforms, and DVD on March 20 by Random Media. The film has already been released for streaming in China, and is due to be released in Europe by late spring. Chapin passed away almost 20 years ago from leukemia in 1998 after a meteoric rising with his Thomas Chapin Trio, but he is fondly remembered by musicians, critics and fans alike.
Sharonne Cohen has recently written an artist profile on Montreal-born, NYC-based saxophonist Chet Doxas and his new project, Rich in Symbols, as well as a piece about Dièse Onze, one of Montreal’s most prominent jazz clubs. Both pieces will be published in upcoming issues of DownBeat magazine.
Ken Franckling reviewed the college and university CDs for the Jazz Education Guide in JazzTimes’ November issue. He is preparing the 2017 edition of his look back at the year in jazz for allaboutjazz.com. Ken reviewed pianist Johnny Varro’s Swing Seven concert at the Charlotte County Jazz Society, as well as two South County Jazz Club matinee concerts for his Jazz Notes blog.
Robin Lloyd hosted Anton Schwartz’s tribute to Stanley Turrentine for the Earshot Jazz Festival, and celebrated the first anniversary of her Saturday Jazz Caliente show. On her Jazz Caliente blog she wrote a preview of this years Latin Grammy Nominees and a remembrance of drummer Bobby Matos.
Lew Shaw’s latest musician profile for The Syncopated Times is Chuck Redd, who has a growing reputation as one of the top performers on the jazz circuit today, equally adept on the drums and vibraphone, having been influenced, mentored and able to have performed with some of the masters of his craft.
Michael J. West wrote a short piece on Frank Perowsky and his new big band project for Jazziz, covered the formation of the Capitol Hill Jazz Caucus for DownBeat, and interviewed Jason Moran for JazzTimes,
Deanna Witkowski has just released her new trio album, Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns, with a corresponding sheet music book for church musicians who want to incorporate jazz in their services. “A Christmas Carol,” Witkowski’s jazz-inflected winning entry in the New England Carol Contest, will be premiered on January 7 by the ChoralArt Camerata in Portland, Maine.
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.)
