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 July 3, 2017.
David R. Adler is writing liner notes for To Love and Be Loved, the latest Smoke Sessions release by piano master Harold Mabern. He has also written liner notes for Franco Ambrosetti’s Cheers! (Enja), guitarist Eric Hofbauer’s Prehistoric Jazz, Vol. 4: Reminiscing in Tempo and drummer Dylan Jack’s Diagrams (Creative Nation). On June 28 David will leave New York with his family and head to his new home in Athens, Georgia. He will continue freelance writing, playing guitar and likely teaching in various capacities.
C. Michael Bailey contributed the liner notes to Fabio Morgera’s CD Riccardo Fassi Tankio Band meets Fabio Morgera.
Stephanie J. Castillo‘s documentary film NIGHT BIRD SONG, THE INCANDESCENT LIFE OF THOMAS CHAPIN is soon to be in worldwide distribution. She and her film partner are vetting five distributors who want the film. Already its educational distribution is in place at kanopy.com, which streams to subscribers that include 3,200 schools, libraries and universities. The film won Best Music Documentary in April at the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival.
Noal Cohen had his essay on bassist Oscar Pettiford published in the booklet accompanying the new double CD, Oscar Pettiford: New York City, 1955-1958 (Uptown Records, UPCD 27.86/87; 2017).
Robin Lloyd wrote a review of the film I Am The Blues, hosted a live studio session with Anat Cohen and Trio Brasileiro, and was MC for Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra’s concert featuring composer and saxophonist Christine Jensen, Stanton Moore’s Trio at Jazz Alley, and Chico Freeman’s concert for the Ballard Jazz Festival. Robin continues to host the afternoon portion of KNKX Radio’s Mid Day Jazz, and hosts Jazz Caliente on Saturdays at 5pm (PT).
W. Royal Stokes has published his trilogy of novels Backwards Over. It chronicles the restless journey through America of the 1960s-80s of Joe Lewis, a late-thirties drop-out caught between the “greatest generation” and its boomer offspring. Scenes range from a cotton-field juke joint in rural Texas to a fiery Harvard Square riot, with stops along the way in Austin, Colorado, rural Maine, Washington, D.C., and Naples, Italy. The books are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle.
Photo: Ted Gioia, 2017 recipient of the JJA’s Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism award.
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.)
