Looking for proof that jazz is alive and well? You’ll find the most recent publications and other work reported by the extremely active members of the Jazz Journalists Association after the jump. We never sleep! If you are a JJA member and would like your recent activities included in the next installment of Member Updates, send a brief paragraph beginning with your name to membernews@jazzjournalists.org by February 3, 2017.
Saul Addison started a Jazzy December attending a set with Proxy at the IBeam in Brooklyn. Followed by a Live Art Music Fusion with live painting and the Mind Open group Chris Covais Jr on vibes, Hugo Lopez on Drums, Kevin B. Clark on guitar and Chris Elsener on Bass providing music. Closing out December was The Interplay Jazz Orchestra playing two festive sets at the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook, New York.
Rusty Hassan contributed liner notes to the Resonance release Shirley Horn At The Four Queens. He interviewed Patricia Willard and A. B. Spellman in forums at the Felix Grant Jazz Archives of the University of the District of Columbia. He interviewed Jimmy Heath on WPFW radio prior to the 90th birthday celebration gala at the Kennedy Center.
Patrick Hinely is especially pleased that his 1987 image of Charlie Haden graces the front cover of Josef Woodard’s Conversations with Charlie Haden (Silman-James Press, ISBN 9781935247159) because he knows Haden himself liked that photograph: It was at the bassist’s insistence that it was featured on the front covers of 5 CDs in his series Montreal Tapes (Polygram) from that city’s 1989 festival (and was also published on the back of that series’ 6th volume).
John Pietaro has been active on various fronts of the jazz sphere: continued work as Staff Writer for the NYC Jazz Record, established ‘New Masses Nights’ monthly performance series in NYC, and signed off on a record contract with poet Amina Baraka for her debut on ESP-Disk; his quartet the Red Microphone will accompany her on the record.
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.)
