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 October 3, 2018.
David R. Adler’s Bright Moments feature on Brian Blade is forthcoming in JazzTimes. David also wrote liner notes for Episodes by guitarist Teriver Cheung and Ensemble Transience, as well as The Book of Water by guitarist Eric Hofbauer and Five Agents.
Noal Cohen published a complete discography of guitarist Wes Montgomery .
Alain Drouot is now contributing to the French website Citizenjazz.com. Initial pieces include a review of the 2018 Toronto Jazz Festival and a coverage of a recent Chicago visit by pedal-steel guitarist Susan Alcorn.
Alex Dutilh began the new season of the leading jazz broadcast in France: Open Jazz on France Musique, the national public radio network. Streaming and podcast available .
Ken Franckling covered the Newport Jazz Festival for JazzTimes, Offbeat and his blog, where he posted a brief write-up and a variety of photos. It was his 38th annual trip to Newport for the Jazz Festival and/or Folk Festival. A side trip to Savannah GA on the way home netted a blog appreciation of hometown musical hero Johnny Mercer.
Steve Griggs performed with drummer Gregg Keplinger and bassist Kelsey Mines at Egan’s Ballard Jam House to celebrate the eve of Elvin Jones’ 91st birthday.
James Hale reviewed Eugene Marlow’s book Jazz In China for DownBeat, previewed a newly discovered Thelonious Monk Quartet live album, profiled Montreal-based saxophonist Chantal De Villers and wrote about the jazz program at Temple University. For SoundStageXperience.com he reviewed recordings by Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Ethan Iverson and Mark Turner.
Doug Hall reviewed the Newport Jazz Festival and all the “new” faces and talent as well as legends as well as “last” tour concert by veteran jazz-rock fusion electronic violinist Jean-Luc Ponty at the Cabot in Beverly, MA .
Sanford Josephson‘s book, Jeru’s Journey: The Life and Music of Gerry Mulligan (Hal Leonard Books: 2015) will be stocked by Labyrinth Books on Princeton’s Nassau Street in connection with Josephson’s upcoming interview on Princeton Community Television’s “Talking Jazz” program, hosted by pianist Eric Mintel. It is scheduled to air sometime in the fall.
Gloria Krolak is co-producing the first ever Jazz Vibes Showcase at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island, January 6, 2019. Joe Locke, Warren Wolf, Tony Miceli and David Friedman, all masters of the vibraphone, will give workshops and perform.
Robin Lloyd hosts Mid Day Jazz and Jazz Caliente on 88.5 KNKX-FM. In August, she welcomed Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band back to Seattle’s Jazz Alley, hosted the Jazz Night School’s Big Band Blue concert at Seattle’s Columbia City Park, and paid tribute to “Mr. Bongo,” Jack Costanzo.
Kerilie McDowall interviewed saxophonist Brodie West for a Q&A and wrote a review on the Cory Weeds Little Big Band for DownBeat. McDowall interviewed free avant jazz drummer Roger Baird for INSPIRED Senior Living Magazine and interviewed songwriter and Order of Canada recipient Ann Mortifee for Bethlehem Centre. McDowall finished up with judging for the Polaris Music Prize.
Fernando Rodriguez continues to publish about Jazz in the Dominican Republic, having written his 1500th article in August in the Jazz en Dominicana page. He has once again been invited to take a group from the Dominican Republic to this year’s Indy Jazz Fest where he will present the Oscar Micheli Trio in a double bill on Latin Jazz Piano Masters, along with Cuba´s Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio.
Travis Rogers, Jr. has written the liner notes for Aimee Allen’s “Wings Uncaged” album and is currently writing the liner notes for Gil Defay’s debut album. He has written recent reviews of Bobby Sanabria’s “West Side Story Reimagined” and more.
Fiona Ross’ two part interview with Maxine Gordon has now been published in Jazz in Europe, as part of her Women in Jazz series, as well as articles on new releases of live recordings of Dexter Gordon an Woody Shaw published in Jazz Quarterly. She has also just returned from the Oslo Jazz Festival, with her article published in Jazz in Europe.
Mitchell Seidel has album covers for Don Friedman, Curtis Fuller and Junior Mance on Progressive Records. He also shot new recording sessions for trumpeter/cornetist/flugelhornist Warren Vache and guitarist Jacob Fisher in New York and trumpeter James Suggs debut with saxophonist Houston Person at Van Gelder studios in New Jersey for Arbors Records. Also, cover stories in Jersey Jazz Journal on the Suncoast Jazz Classic (Jan.), Highlights in Jazz (May); cover photos of Marlene VerPlanck and Marian McPartland (March), NJJS annual scholarship winners (July-August). Jersey Jazz feature articles include a memorial on engineer Jim Czak (March) and Django a GoGo (June).
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.)
