Jason Berry‘s vertical hours are focused on getting the jazz funerals documentary, “City of a Million Dreams,” before audiences. Based on his 2018 book, this film is a life’s work. It has drawn good reviews from five film festivals so far: Sarasota, Flickers’ Rhode Island, Martha’s Vineyard African American [virtual], Indy’s Heartland International and just now as the launch event [first for a doc] at the New Orleans Film Festival. The website has outreach screening dates.
Larry Blumenfeld never thought he’d file 7,000 words about opera premieres. Yet he did just that, in two separate pieces for Daily Beast. His piece on Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones places the Met Opera premiere in the context of Blanchard’s life and career; another, on Wayne Shorter’s Iphigenia, traces the development and idea of the project for two years before its opening. (Paywall blocking you? Please email Lblu@aol.com for a copy.)
Jose Dos Santos Cuban-based, has been sick since July. He is now restarting his work, writing liner note for a new album called Los Herederos, dedicated to pianist Chucho Valdés in the 80th anniversary of his birth.
Ken Franckling previewed drummer Bobby Sanabria’s Quarteto Aché appearance at Chelsea Table + Stage on November 19 in the November issue of Hot House. He also photographed and reviewed several Southwest Florida concerts for his Jazz Notes blog, most notably the Jim Roberts Saxtet and La Lucha performances for the Charlotte County Jazz Society.
Sascha Feinstein, founding editor of Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz & Literature, writes to say that the latest issue is now available. It features a lengthy interview with poet, critic and fiction writer Ira Sadoff, where he talks equally about writing and jazz. The striking cover image of Jazzmeia Horn is by JJA member-photographer Steven Sussman.
Doug Hall has recently researched and written a long-form profile of Nina Simone for the “Artist of the Month” feature at WICN Public Radio in Worcester, Mass. Big news for New England jazz listeners: Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club has opened in Portsmouth, N.H. Hall interviewed the programming director, posting the details at Allaboutjazz.com and visited the club in October to interview jazz trumpet legend Randy Brecker there.
Sanford Josephson interviewed Anat Cohen in Jersey Jazz Magazine about her Nov. 20th concert in tribute to George Wein (part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival at NJPAC). He also interviewed violinist Daisy Castro in connection with her early November appearances with Stephane Wrembel’s “Django New Orleans” shows at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Bill King and his son Jesse have been hosting the ever-popular “Soul Nation,” a weekly three-hour show exploring the connection between jazz, gospel, hip hop, soul, funk and reggae @jazzfm91 in Toronto. The pandemic also allowed him quiet time to write and assemble four books (as William M. King): a trilogy of interviews and a memoir. He recently became director of strategy and engagement for Sing! International Vocal Festival in Toronto.
Ralph Lampkin, Jr. as Lampkin Music Group is working as PR/promotion rep for Chicago-based singer Josie Falbo and her new holiday EP A Jazzy Interlude with Josie Falbo. In addition, LMG is working promotions and PR for the debut of Joanie Pallatto’s My Original Plan at the newly opened Venus Cabaret Theater on December 5, 6:30-9:00 p.m. For interviews and other information, please contact LampkinMusic@gmail.com.
Robin Lloyd, after 21 years of on-air hosting jazz and blues shows in all dayparts from overnights to prime-time, is now officially the Jazz Reporter at KNKX-FM in Seattle/Tacoma, providing reporting and storytelling about jazz and more for the station website knkx.org and its related social media outlets. Robin will retain her one-hour weekly Saturday Latin Jazz show, Jazz Caliente.
Howard Mandel wrote liner notes for Licentia Poetica by the quartet of Klaus Kugel, Elma Kais, Daigo Nakai and Knox Chandler, and reviewed trumpeter Brian Lynch’s Bus Stop Serenade for DownBeat. His appreciation of the late Bob Koester (Delmark Records/Jazz Record Mart) was published in Living Blues magazine.
Dom Minasi started writing for AllAboutJazz again. “Why Jazz?”is his first article in five years.He is submitting a new article featuring an interview with pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn, a 2021 JJA Jazz Award winner. His new recording Me Myself and I has been submitted to Unseen Rain Records with a release set for early 2022. He has been composing new music for an off-Broadway show (more to come about that) and teaching, strictly online, five days a week.
Luciano Rossetti was been taking photos to many festivals in Italy and Germany at the end of the summer and the beginning of autumn, including Isole Che Parlano in the north of Sardinia (Palau), the Bergamo Jazz Festival, Bottesini Reloaded in Crema, Soundscapes #3 in Munich, and at Jazz & Wine of Peace in Cormons, on the Italian border with Slovenia.
Rob Shepherd recently interviewed NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman for PostGenre. They surveyed Lieb’s career thus far, the impact of the pandemic, and his most recent album with his Expansions quintet, Selflessness. Rob has also recently conducted a series of interviews for PostGenre focused on duos – Sylvie Courvoisier with Mary Halvorson, Yuma Uesaka with Marilyn Crispell, and an interview with bassoonist Sara Schoenbeck on her self-titled leader debut, a collection of duet recordings.
Scott Thompson PR has been busy working the new release by Cuban pianist Dayramir Gonzalez Tributo a Juan Formell & Los Van Van. Also with Grammy® FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION projects for Dayramir, MUSIC FOR LOVE, Clifton Anderson, Karuna Shinsho, Greg Dayton, Ray Shaw, Christian de Mesones, Sarah Partridge and Toygar Isikli & Break of Reality. Thompson is also working with drummer Paul Mullikin and assisting Keystone Korner Baltimore with publicity.
Michael J. West has continued his grim duty as the obituary writer for JazzTimes. This month he has written notices for Pat Martino, Dave Frishberg, Slide Hampton, and Jim Knapp (to be published).
