Here are the most recent publications and other work reported by the extremely active members of the Jazz Journalists Association. We never sleep!
Shaun Brady wrote the cover stories on Vijay Iyer for the January/February issue of JazzTimes and on Robert Glasper for the March issue of Downbeat. He recently profiled Esperanza Spalding and Theo Bleckmann for Jazziz and is contributing a series of blog posts related to Muhal Richard Abrams’ newly-commissioned composition for Bobby Zankel’s Philadelphia-based Warriors of the Wonderful Sound big band (including an interview with Jason Moran about his studies with Muhal) at www.bobbyzankel.com.
Suzanne Cloud will be writing a column for her Philly Jazz Journal on JazzTimes.com about the Center City Jazz Festival slated for April in Philadelphia. An event totally funded by Kickstarter, which raises new and provocative questions about “paying to play” for younger musicians.
David Evanier‘s book, All the Things You Are: The Life of Tony Bennett, was reviewed in the March issue of Downbeat Magazine. It was also cited in the critics’ poll of Jazz Times magazine (March issue) as runner-up for best jazz book of the year. Evanier gave a reading from the book at the Port Washington Public Library on February 24.
Ken Franckling provided seven jazz photographs (Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Joe WIlliams, Ruby Braff, Lionel Hampton, Dave McKenna/Gray Sargent, and John Pizzarelli) for Boston broadcaster Ron Della Chiesa’s new book, Radio My Way. Since moving from New England four months ago, Ken has been covering the Southwest Florida jazz scene with reviews and photographs for JazzTimes.com and his blog, Jazz Notes.
Lyn Horton will be interviewing Darius Jones for a profile to be published in JazzTimes.com. Her blog, The Paradigm for Beauty, has had over 22,000 readers in less than two years: the content of the blog is not only music reviews, but also musician profiles, philosophical articles on creativity and creative ventures that she launches on so she can stay “Out of The Box.”
Matthew Kassel reviewed Live at Bird’s Eye, a Hendrik Meurkens album, and Danny Boy, Edward Simon’s latest release, for The New York City Jazz Record. For the April issue, he is reviewing a recently unearthed Wes Montgomery record, Echoes of Indiana. He is excited about it.
Elzy Kolb‘s “JazzWomen!” column in the March Hot House includes chats with pianist Joanne Brackeen, on being hired by Art Blakey; flutist Jan Leder, on the Lady Got Chops Festival; and trombonist Deborah Weitz, on the return of her big band. Go to www.hothousejazz.com, and scroll to page 32 to read more.
Eugene Marlow‘s March is a cornucopia of collaborations. March 1st and 3rd selections from his “Les Sentiments D’Amour” album (MEII Enterprises 2006) will be used as music for choreographer Rae Charles dance “Hush” to be performed at the Tisch Dance Studio, 111 Second Avenue (NYC). On March 4 his ongoing collaboration between the Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives series (of which he is senior curator) and the Baruch Performing Arts Center continues with a performance of the Harvard Jazz Band and special guest bassist Cecil McBee. On March 22, Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble again performs at NYC’s Nuyorican Poets Café (their fourth appearance). On March 27 Marlow’s longstanding collaboration with multi-Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria continues when the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (under Sanabria’s direction) performs Marlow’s latest work for big band, “The Griot’s Tale.”
Ralph A. Miriello recently covered the memorial concert for percussionist/songwriter Ralph MacDonald in Stamford, CT, the Ben Allison concert at Carnegie Hall and a Ted Rosenthal performance at the Watercolor Cafe and also reviewed new albums from trumpeter Jimmy Owens and drummer Jack Dejohnette or his blog www.notesonjazz.blogspot.com and the Huffington Post.
Steve Monroe published his feature story on Duke Ellington School of the Arts educator and saxophonist Davey Yarborough in the March edition of Capital Community News in Washington, D.C., and featured the Jimmy Cobb 84th birthday celebration at Bohemian Caverns in his “Jazz Avenues” column in the February MD/DC edition. Monroe also tweeted (@jazzavenues) and blogged on the passing of Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson and revered WPFW programmer Jamal Muhammad, as well as on performances by Jimmy Cobb and Roy Haynes.
Bruce Pulver is pleased to be a new member of the JJA. He has previewed the March 9th World Premiere of Ted Wade’s “Suite for Jazz Orchestra” featuring Jazz Orchestra Atlanta for Jazztimes. Pulver also blogged his Jerry McGuire letter to the Jazz Community. In effort to walk the walk, Pulver joins in with the Pace Academy (Atlanta, GA) Arts Council to help produce the first “Friendraiser” House Concert featuring volinist, Christian Howse on March 25th. This event precedes, Mr Howse week long artist workshop for the Pace Academy String department and features Howes and some of Altanta’s top jazz musicians performing a concert for Pace parents and Arts council supporters.
Arnold Jay Smith is still a-bloggin’ www.jazzinsights.net. Check it out and let him know.
Daniel Smith will have 10 of his albums re-released on iTunes in 55 countries by Universal Music. This includes eight classical albums, including five comprising the complete 37 bassoon concertos of Antonio Vivaldi, and two crossover albums (Bassoon Bon-Bons) and (Bravo Bassoon). His four jazz albums are also now showcased on iTunes throughout the world. Cadence magazine plans to soon release in both audio and print an extensive interview with Daniel Smith on his career.
Luke Stewart has written a review of a performance by DC piano genius Dwayne Adell, a profile on recently passed DC area radio host Jamal Muhammad, and continues his regular contribution to CapitalBop.com, a DC Jazz Guide, as Avant Music Editor.
Bert Vuijsje has co-produced the sixth CD in the Jazz at the Concertgebouw series of Music Center the Netherlands (MCN). These private concert recordings from the 1950s by Dutch impresario Lou van Rees have never before been released. The new CD is called Star Eyes, featuring music from the September 1958 Jazz from Carnegie Hall concert in Amsterdam (Lee Konitz, Zoot Sims, Phineas Newborn Jr., Red Garland, Oscar Pettiford, and Kenny Clarke). Bert also wrote the (English) text for the booklet with the CD.
Michael J. West reviewed guitarist Anthony Pirog for the Washington Post; profiled married bassists Josh Ginsburg and Anne Mette Iversen and wrote the lead review (Billy Hart’s All Our Reasons) for the April issue of JazzTimes; covered Winter Jazz Fest for the April issue of Down Beat; and the hardships of DC’s new Enterprise Theater & Jazz Lounge for Washington City Paper.
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 are a JJA Member and want your update to be included in next month’s roundup, send it to membernews@jazzjournalists.org by April 1, 2012. (no joke!)
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.)
