Jazz journalism is alive and well, as JJA members are getting their news and views about the music out in every media platform — locally, nationally and internationally. We never sleep, we only listen and work! See the most recent publications and other work reported by the extremely active members of the Jazz Journalists Association after the jump.
New members include Shannon Fontana, photographer-writer-publisher of New England-based website BleuBop, Eric Gagnon of Trois-Rivieres, Canada (about halfway between Montreal and Quebec, whose weekly radio program and affiliated website La Machine Á Remonter Le Tympan on CFOU-FM features folk, jazz, country and avant-garde, and Melanie Nanez, the JJA’s new web administrator. Welcome all!
Bill Beuttler’s book Make It New: Reshaping Jazz in the 21st Century, is available now through Lever Press. The book explores new ways in which jazz is engaging with society through the vivid biographies and music of Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, The Bad Plus, Miguel Zenón, Anat Cohen, Robert Glasper, and Esperanza Spalding. Beuttler describes this new generation of jazz as increasingly international, more open to women as instrumentalists and bandleaders, and reasserting itself as a force for social change.
Daniel Kassell’s debut project Watch Jazz Happen, at APAP and JazzConnect, consisted of personally handing out links to view three Vimeo OnDemand live performance shoots: Dick Hyman’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” for Fats Waller’s 115 Birthday at Dizzy’s; Michael White’s “NOLA Fairview Boys in NYC” at the Appel Room; and Jon Hendricks’ 2014 APAP showcase. Vimeo OnDemand is a new opportunity for musicians to receive a revenue for their live performance, with a portion contributed to the Jazz Foundation of America.
Howard Mandel’s feature on Kris Davis appeared in the February 2020 issue of DownBeat; he wrote liner notes for Chicago guitarist Zvonimir Tot’s Sarabande Blue, reviewed Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet’s When Angels Fall for DB, and wrote a column re the Jazz Congress and Winter JazzFest for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazzgram.
Jim Wilke produced many live radio broadcasts of major jazz artists on Jazz From The Penthouse in the 1960s. Some of the original airchecks are now being issued for the first time on both CD and LP. Appearing on “Best Historical Recordings” lists are Cannonball Adderley Swingin’ in Seattle and Johnny Griffin & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis’ OW!, both on Reel to Real Recordings. In addition to the original tapes, Jim also provided notes for the booklets. More releases are coming.
