JJA members are getting their news and views about the music out in every media platform, locally, nationally and internationally. 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 November 3, 2017.
Dan Bilawsky reviewed albums from a wide variety of artists for All About Jazz (Lauren Kinhan, Eddie Daniels/Roger Kellaway), JAZZed Magazine (Alan Ferber Big Band, Virginia Ayers Dawson), and JazzTimes (Bobby Watson, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Matt Mitchell). In addition, September saw the release of an album that contains liner notes penned by Dan Bilawsky–Danny Grissett’s Remembrance (on the Savant imprint).
Jane Ira Bloom performs the first in a series of All Acoustic duo concerts at St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church, 315 West 22nd St, NYC on Friday, November 17 at 7:30pm. She’ll be joined by long-time bandmate bassist Kent McLagan. The Duo will perform music from Bloom’s most recent release Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson as well as original compositions specially selected for performance in the unique acoustic environment of the church.
Steve Bryant started a bi-monthly column for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun titled “The Philadelphia Aesthetic.” He will spotlight the Black and Latino artists and organizations that perform, produce, and present music, dance, poetry and visual arts in Philadelphia. He can be contacted at sbryant415@yahoo.com.
Debbie Burke has been asked by her publisher to co-author a book on the economic resurgence of an urban center with a rich musical heritage. She has also recently completed interviews of musicians Nick Colionne, David McLorren, Ken Karsh, Joyce Spencer and Dave Brosky, which appear on her jazz blog.
Christopher Burnett left his position as staff writer and reporter for the Fort Leavenworth Lamp newspaper, a weekly publication and subsidiary of Gatehouse Media, Inc. Mr. Burnett wrote 150 feature articles during his one year tenure with the Lamp. He departed to resume music as the primary focus of his professional activities – performing, recording, composing and teaching. He will continue writing for his own publication, Jazz Artistry Now, and select freelance work.
Noal Cohen wrote “Making Choices,” a chapter published in Our Earliest Passions Shape Our Future (Jeff Resnick, Ed.), Jeff Resnick Productions, Midlothian, VA, 2017, pp. 136-187.
Steve Griggs wrote a profile of cellist Lori Goldston for Earshot Jazz. Steve attended the opening of the Sonny Rollins archive at the Schomburg Center for Research of Black Culture. Steve completed his series of six free park concerts sponsored by the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Steve interviewed Terry Martin of the Chicago Jazz Institute for the Seattle Public Library jazz archive.
Sheila Jordan gigs for October 2017 include: Rosendale Cafe in Rosendale, N.Y. on October 21, 2017 @ 7:30PM – with Rob Scheps sax, Cameron Brown bass, Tony Jefferson drums; First Presbyterian Church in Cold Springs, N.Y. on October 28, 2017 @ 5:30PM with the same personnel; and Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, N.J. on October 29, 2017 @ 7:00PM, where Sheila will be given the Trumpet Hall of Fame Award.
Robin Lloyd reviewed the French film Django, hosted the Spanish Harlem Orchestra at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, and interviewed Pacific NW blues legend Curtis Salgado in a live Studio Session. Robin continues to host the afternoon Mid Day Jazz and Saturday Jazz Caliente programs on KNKX-FM.
Howard Mandel presented Nicole Mitchell her 8th JJA Flutist of the Year Award, hosted a JJA brunch during the Chicago Jazz Festival (which he blogged about at ArtsJournal.com/JazzBeyondJazz — along with the Hyde Park and Englewood Jazz Festivals, proudly receiving a Spirit of Jazz Award at the latter), reviewed three albums for DownBeat, wrote liners for Jay Rodriguez’s Your Sound and SHEroes by the Whole World In Her Hands all-stars convened by Monika Herzig.
Bill Moody placed a short story with Noir Journal, and anthology of jazz/crime fiction and interviews. It is due out in November.
John Pietaro has three primary projects: a book of essays on the Culture of Liberation, a novel, and co-writing/editing of Amina Baraka’s autobiography. He is still writing for NYC Jazz Record. He has performances w/Amina Baraka & the Red Microphone 10/30 at Brooklyn Commons, and 11/11 at Colony (Woodstock, NY).
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.)
