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 September 3, 2016.
Saul Addison attended two smoking Jazz festivals held on Long Island in July. The Harbor Jazz festival in Stony Brook which was headlined by Freddy Cole Quartet. Also the Coltrane Day music festival held in Huntington which had appearances by Melissa Aldana Quartet, Michelle Coltrane and closed out by Roy Haynes & Fountain of Youth Band. July was closed out by an excellent performance by the Interplay Jazz Orchestra at the Jazz Loft.
David R. Adler interviewed tenor great George Coleman for a “Bright Moments” feature in the September issue of JazzTimes. He also conducted a “Before & After” session with trumpeter Bria Skonberg and is currently writing a feature on drummer/composer Tyshawn Sorey for the magazine.
Mirian Arbalejo covered ‘Noches del Botánico Festival’ in Madrid writing about Scofield, Mehldau & Guiliana, Antonio Sánchez & Migration, and John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension. She reviewed Holding The Stage. Road Shows Vol. 4, by Sonny Rollins. She also remembers the Jazz Photographer Esther Cidoncha, who passed away last May.
Lori Bell was busy working on her set for the Jazz In The Pines Festival in Idyllwild, CA on Sunday August 21. Joining her were pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist Katie Thiroux and drummer Matt Witek as they explored classics from Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Duke Pearson, Djavan, and Rodgers & Hart.
Paul Simeon Fingerote launched his new book, Jazz on My Mind: Liner Notes, Anecdotes and Conversations from the 1940s to the 2000s (written in collaboration with the late Dr. Herb Wong) in a book release party at Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, California, on August 7th. Accompanied by student musicians Jamie Zimmer and Julian Lopez playing selections from the book, Fingerote featured stories from Herb, excerpts from the book, as well as photos, album covers and sound bites.
James Hale James Hale wrote for DownBeat about the number of jazz stars — Ethan Iverson, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Steve Lehman, Vijay Iyer, et al. — who have recently been appointed to important academic positions.
Bonnie Johnson celebrates six years hosting “Colors Of Jazz”, the weekly show she created at WICN. She launched “Sounds Of Summer”, a series that has so far included interviews with pianist Kenny Barron and artistic director Piotr Turkiewicz of Poland’s Jazztopad Festival. She also co-produced a concert entitled “Midsummer Colors Of Jazz”; presenting nearly thirty artists performing jazz, Latin music and dance improvisation. Photo/blogger Erin X. Smithers captured the spirit of the evening.
Kiyoshi Koyama’s weekly two-hour NHK-FM show Jazz Tonight will welcome New York based Japanese pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. for his upcoming show, when they visit Japan to perform with their award-winning new group New Century Jazz Quintet (NCJQ) next month. Mr. Ohbayashi won 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Festival Piano Competition last May and NCJQ won DC’s inaugural DCJazzPrix 2016 in June.
Ralph Lampkin, Jr, of Lampkin Music Group is very busy this August: He is promoting two exciting projects: the 5th South Bend Jazz Festival on August 20th, and the Debut of South Bend-based Second Star Theatre, both at Century Center. LMG is excited to continue to coproduce the “Spotlight Series,” with Christopher Gines at the New York-based Cafe Noctambulo. They will be presenting singer Abigail Rockell, and Chicago Hero Awards winners Joanie Pallatto and Bradley Parker Sparrow in September.
Steve Monroe‘s July Jazz Avenues for the East of the River print and capitalcommunitynews.com
Michael Quinlin has published the 8th annual 2016 MassJazz Guide, a compendium of live jazz events in Massachusetts from July-December 2016, plus stories on Vijay Iyer, Grace Kelly. and jazz impresario Fred Taylor. Published by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, the MassJazz Guide also lists radio programs, promoters, college courses, brunches, jazz clubs and jazz festivals in Massachusetts.
Doug Ramsey and pianist Bill Mays presented their A History of Piano Jazz concert on August 3 at the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival. Mays played compositions by pianists in a range from Jelly Roll Morton to Cecil Taylor. Ramsey’s narration provides context and continuity. The Ystad event will be their third presentation of the concert, following those at the 2012 Oregon Coast Jazz Party and last fall at The Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima, Washington.
Bob Rosenbaum has donated five signed photographic prints of Southern California area jazz luminaries to the Venice Community Housing’s Jazz Champagne Brunch being held September 18th. The annual VCH event raises funds to subsidize affordable housing and community development in this legendary seaside town. Bob’s images of Kenny Burrell, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, George Cables and John Heard will be offered during the silent auction of the popular Jazz Brunch.
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.)
