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 October 3, 2014.
David R. Adler reviewed CDs by Orrin Evans, Eric Harland, Charles Lloyd and Charlie Haden/Jim Hall for Stereophile. He wrote an Opening Chorus piece on pianist Billy Childs for JazzTimes, as well as a Before & After column with drummer Nasheet Waits. David also wrote for JazzTimes about Keep On Keepin’ On, the moving Clark Terry documentary, and interviewed Quincy Jones and Justin Kauflin in the process. His guest column on the Justice for Jazz Artists campaign will soon run in the magazine as well.
Nancy Barell‘s 232nd edition of Jazz Spotlight on Sinatra is up. “I have been broadcasting for close to 9 years and is is still a great passion for me. I keep my program fresh with new release and have always played the icons of today and yesterday. I have thousands of listeners all over the world and would love you to check it out.”
Noal Cohen‘s second edition of Rat Race Blues: The Musical Life of Gigi Gryce, coauthored with Michael Fitzgerald, was published (Current Research in Jazz, Rockville, Maryland, ISBN 978-0-9906686-0-2). Winner of the 2003 Award for Excellence from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, the first edition (2002) has now been updated with new information from another decade’s worth of research.
John Fenton has been busy down under in New Zealand where the days are now growing longer. This means Jazz Festivals are looming and some headline acts off the back of Australian Tours will be covered. John has provided photographs for a new album by the Australian Jazz Funk band ‘Hip Flask’. John flew to Australia for the recording session in Sydney’s iconic 301 Studio. He has been busy covering local improvised music events with reviews, video and photographs.
Ken Franckling published Jazz in the Key of Light (Eighty of our Finest Jazz Musicians Speak for Themselves) in mid–October. Images of the featured jazz artists are paired with illuminating quotes from interviews Ken had with those musicians over the past 30 years. Newport Jazz Festival producer George Wein wrote the Foreword. Additionally, 10 of Ken’s 2014 Newport Jazz Festival photos were featured in a “Newport at 60” special photo section in the October issue of Jazz Times.
Krin Gabbard’s article, “The Vanishing Love Song in Film Noir,” has been published in the anthology Kiss the Blood off My Hands: On Classic Film Noir, ed. Robert Miklitsch (U of Illinois Press, 2014). The article concentrates on performances by jazz artists in classic noirs from the 1940s and 1950s. Krin has also finished the first draft of an interpretive biography of Charles Mingus, to be published next year by the University of California Press.
Steve Griggs continues his Songs of Unsung Seattle residency at the Seattle Public Library with support from Chamber Music America. In October, his ensemble returns to the Panama Hotel for 2 years of monthly performances of Panama Hotel Jazz with support through a City of Seattle smART ventures grant and National Park Service Japanese Confinement Sites grant. Steve will also be joining Brenda Peterson’s book tour for Your Life is a Book: How to Craft and Publish Your Memoir.
Ralph Lampkin, Jr., owner of Lampkin Music Group, is proud to working with jazz singer Martha Lorin and Host of NPR’s Piano Jazz Jon Weber on A Celebration of Harold Arlen. This new show is a tribute to the musicians and singers who sang Harold Arlen’s music. Performances at Don’t Tell Mama in NY.
Robin Lloyd interviewed Pablo Menendez, leader of the Cuban band “Mezcla.” Robin was also honored to read the City of Seattle’s Proclamation to declare October 4, 2014 Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Day at the season-opening concert and on the air at KPLU.
Sebastian Scotney, along with his regular activity editing LondonJazz News, has gotten some interesting commissions: from the Berlin Jazz Festival – a short essay on the UK scene; All Jazz Radio South Africa – a weekly talking head slot; Telegraph Media – features on Jamie Cullum and Nigel Price; Champs Hill Records – sleeve notes for Man Overboard Swing ; BBC Radio 3 – forthcoming London Jazz Festival preview.
Daniel Smith’s world premiere of BLAZING BASSOON- Concerto For Jazz Bassoon, Trio And Orchestra, by British composer Simon Proctor, will take place in the Fall of 2015. His recent recording of Smokin’ Hot Bassoon Blues received over 30 outstanding reviews worldwide and has been submitted for Grammy consideration in four categories. New album releases include Jazz Suite for Bassoon (Summit Records-April of 2015), followed in 2016 by Big Band Bassoon-A Tribute To The Great Swing Bands.
Jeff Tamarkin is working on a feature story on British vocalist/pianist Jamie Cullum for JazzTimes.
Dragan Tasic has taken photos of 30th Belgrade Jazz Festival 2014 in Serbien.
Joan Watson-Jones‘ November interviews in “The Jazz Room” will be Gary Burton, 11/5 and 11/12; Karrin Allyson, 11/19, 22, and 26; and Giacomo Gates, 12/3. Wednesdays at 10:30PM on the CyberStationUsa.com Radio Network.
Deanna Witkowski is releasing her fifth recording, Raindrop: Improvisations with Chopin (Tilapia Records), on November 15. The solo piano release features articulate, unusual jazz takes on eight Chopin pieces with elements of Brazilian, classical, and free improvisation. Liner notes were written by JJA board member Neil Tesser. Witkowski performs her album release concert on December 6 at Park Avenue Christian Church in Manhattan.
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.)
