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 March 3, 2016.
Nancy Barell has been broadcasting on Live365.com for 11 years. They went dark on Jan. 31 due to increases in royalty rates for Internet radio. Nancy is researching other sites and so far hasn’t found one that meets her criteria. “If any of the members of Jazz Journalists have any suggestions for me please let me know. I will be back on the air soon because it is my passion.”
David Basse published his list of Top Ten 2015 Jazz Albums and added them to my website. He performed with Bobby Watson and Benny Green at the American Jazz Museum as part of the Centennial Concert in honor of Jay McShann’s birth. He will release my 8th recording February 21st, and is planning an east coast tour in May with pianist Dave Bass.
Stephanie Castillo, Emmy-winning filmmaker, has completed her film THOMAS CHAPIN, NIGHT BIRD SONG and is inviting writers and reviewers to contact her at castillosj@aol.com. She has a screener available to view online of her Showcase version which runs 2 and a half hours plus intermission. A special invitation-only screening for the press is scheduled for Feb. 21 or 28 at City Winery. To attend, RSVP at tcnightbirdsong@gmail.com.
Lynn Darroch‘s new book, Rhythm in the Rain – Jazz in the Pacific Northwest, will be in stores and available for purchase online Feb. 8. (Review copies are available from Portland State University’s Ooligan Press.)
Dawn DeBlaze is currently writing grants for the Jazz Edge Orchestra with Bobby Watson and Angela Hagenbach, while preparing CDs for media release. In January she photographed four 14-hour days at the JEN Conference and sailed the 15th Anniversary Jazz Cruise, capturing special moments. At the end of 2015 she produced “Voices for the MS Cure” featuring vocalists Charles Glenn and Joe Mancuso at ‘Jazz St. Louis.’
Ken Franckling compiled his comprehensive year-in-review of the jazz world’s goings on during 2015 for allaboutjazz.com. He also covered concerts by the International Jazz Trio (Eddie Metz Jr., Nicki Parrott and Rossano Sportiello), pianist William Evans, and a Zoot Sims-Al Cohn tribute concert featuring tenor players Lew Del Gatto and Jeff Rupert on his Jazz Notes blog. Ken also blogged about Rhode Island’s 48-year big band tradition, which moved to a new home in late January.
Steve Griggs received a Jazz2U grant from the Jazz Education Network to interview Coltrane scholar Yasuhiro Fujioka at the Royal Room in Seattle. His profiles of drummer D’Vonne Lewis and trumpeter Ahamefule Oluo have been reprinted in Rhythm in the Rain: Jazz in the Pacific Northwest by Lynn Darroch.
Ollie Hernegren is working on a project to document the roots and growth of jazz in his home region in western Sweden. A number of interviews have been done and the collection of facts is ongoing.
Steve Monroe’s January Jazz Avenues for the East of the River print and capitalcommunitynews.com editions included Happy New Year’s and Happy Birthday wishes for D.C. native and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb; News on the DC Jazz Festival’s JazzPrix; a review of The Lovejoy Group’s CD Believe; and a preview of the February Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival. Monroe also blogged on Transparent Productions 2016 events and a look back at jazz on radio in D.C.
Karl Stober is working on a number of articles including a feature/interview on guitarist Russ Hewitt for Cadence magazine, feature on the decline of jazz for Couleurs Jazz and a possible feature on the independent musician concerning their day to day journey. On the film side, he’s starting back up with his documentary A Dark Romance- Addiction & Creativity, which is halfway done and will be narrated by Daryl Hannah.
Carol Sudhalter has been invited to re-join the faculty of Augusta Heritage Blues and Swing Week, July 17-22, in Elkins, WV, as horns teacher.
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.)
I really enjoy catching up every month - many thanks to you all.