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 August 3, 2016.
Saul Addison has been checking out the newly opened Jazz Loft in the historic town of Stony Brook Long Island. The Jazz loft is a museum with a rich collection of Jazz history, a center for educational outreach and a performance space. With collections from Milt Hinton, Arthur Prysock and various pieces and memorabilia on display. There are weekly performances at “Club Q” upstairs.There is something there for every type of jazz lover.
Jane Ira Bloom performs duo with long-time collaborator, pianist Fred Hersch at the Maverick Concerts, 120 Maverick Rd., Woodstock, NY on Saturday, July 30 at 7:00pm.
Stephanie J. Castillo, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, is processing distribution interest in her new 2016 documentary film Thomas Chapin, Night Bird Song. She came back from the Cannes film market in May with serious interest from several film sales agents who want international and U.S. domestic rights. The film plays on Sept. 18 at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival and on Sept. 21-22 at the University of Kentucky at Lexington. Stephanie is also preparing a 90-min. version for TV/cable/educational/film festival distribution.
Tim Coakley has finalized the performers for this fall in Schenectady’s concert series “A Place for Jazz.” He has also been playing my drums with Skip Parsons’ Riverboat Jazz Band, and continues his weekly jazz show on WAMC FM in Albany.
Paul Simeon Fingerote, appeared in two radio interviews on behalf of his new book, “Jazz on My Mind” (co-authored with the late Dr. Herb Wong). Frequent NPR contributor Rick Kleffel’s interview is archived at http://kazu.org/ and Michael Jacobi, host of “Raising the Standards” and producer of “Jazz on the Plazz” in Los Gatos, interviewed Paul on Santa Cruz station KSCO archived at http://ksco.com (scroll down to Shows and click on Raising the Standards for the June 25th interview).
Ken Franckling is preparing for his 35th Newport Jazz Festival in the last 36 years, (missing only 1983) since it returned to Newport in 1981. He will hold a Western Massachusetts book-signing for Jazz in the Key of Light on August 7 at the Whitney Center for the Arts in Pittsfield. Ken profiled the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters for the summer edition of the Jazz Club of Sarasota’s newsletter Sounds.
David Franklin played alto saxophone in a June 16 concert by the 18-piece Charlotte (NC) Jazz Orchestra. The band recently released its first CD, Uptown Down.
Leslie Lynnton Fuller is enjoying her second year as a social media strategist for both The Jazz Kitchen (of Indianapolis) and for Indy Jazz Fest. “It’s a privilege to help get the word out about-and to see in concert- artists including Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jonathan Butler, Dianne Reeves, Take 6, Pat Martino, Joey DeFrancisco and Chuchito Valdes.”
Tzvi Gluckin interviewed Adam Rudolph, along with Nels Cline and Damon Banks, and discussed his Go: Organic Guitar Orchestra. The interview will appear in the July edition of Premier Guitar.
James Hale covered the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival and profiled the jazz program at St. Francis Xavier University for DownBeat, and reviewed Paul Simon’s new recording for SoundStageXperience.com.
Steve Monroe‘s June Jazz Avenues for the East of the River print and capitalcommunitynews.com
Travis Rogers, Jr. was honored to write the liner notes for Gene Ess’ upcoming release, “Absurdist Theater.” The reviews included phenomenal works by Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions and Raul Agraz’s “Between Brothers” and so many other great artists.
Perry Tannenbaum just published his annual roundup of jazz concerts at Spoleto Festival USA in JazzTimes, marking the sixth straight year that he’s reviewed both Spoleto and the Savannah Music Festival at jazztimes.com. He’s been covering the full range of performing arts at Spoleto since 1991, a 25th anniversary of his own as Spoleto celebrated its 40th. He’s just begun research on a book-length history of the festival – spotlighting the drama, the controversy, and the jazz.
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.)
