Marcus Shelby: Jazz & Baseball
Marcus Shelby loves baseball. His Facebook posts tend to be daily updates on the ups and downs of his favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, … Read More “Marcus Shelby: Jazz & Baseball”
Lee Mergner
Lee Mergner is JazzTimes‘ Contributing Editor. Between 1990 and 2018, he served the magazine in a multitude of roles, including Editor and Publisher.
Lee Mergner on social media
Bernard Fowler: Going Deep Into the Rolling Stones
Singer and percussionist Bernard Fowler has been a backing vocalist for numerous artists and bands, including David Bowie, Material, and Alice Cooper. But it’s been … Read More “Bernard Fowler: Going Deep Into the Rolling Stones”
Nicki Parrott: It’s Possible to Sing and Play the Bass
Bassist Nicki Parrott is truly a musician’s musician. Except that she also sings. Although she came a little late to the vocals game, she’s become … Read More “Nicki Parrott: It’s Possible to Sing and Play the Bass”
Chuck Redd: Real Good Vibes
The term “journeyman” often gets used in a pejorative way to describe veteran jazz musicians of a certain age, like they’re perennial sidemen or sidewomen … Read More “Chuck Redd: Real Good Vibes”
Inside Stanley Nelson, Jr.’s New Miles Davis Documentary
How do you sum up the life and career of Miles Davis in just under two hours? That was the challenge that noted documentary filmmaker … Read More “Inside Stanley Nelson, Jr.’s New Miles Davis Documentary”
The Scene: Keystone Korner Baltimore
“This whole venture is based on friendship and synergy,” says Todd Barkan, jazz nightclub impresario and co-owner of Keystone Korner Baltimore, which opened on April … Read More “The Scene: Keystone Korner Baltimore”
Joey DeFrancesco and Pharoah Sanders: Meeting of the Spirits
When it comes to narrative arcs, few are more compelling than the story of two people on separate life paths who eventually connect and create … Read More “Joey DeFrancesco and Pharoah Sanders: Meeting of the Spirits”
Lee Mergner Remembers Jim Miller
Have you ever known someone for so long that you can’t remember when or where or how or even why you first met? Sometimes we … Read More “Lee Mergner Remembers Jim Miller”
Adonis Rose: To Swing Toussaint
Over the last five years or so, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) has been through a lot of turmoil [see Jennifer Odell’s story in … Read More “Adonis Rose: To Swing Toussaint”
Jennifer Wharton: All About That Bass Trombone
Jennifer Wharton lives and breathes trombone. She even admits to having a dress adorned with them (see the photo above for proof). The bass trombonist, … Read More “Jennifer Wharton: All About That Bass Trombone”
Kurt Elling Readies The Big Blind for NYC Premiere
The inspiration for Kurt Elling’s radio play The Big Blind—co-written with Phil Galdston and premiering at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on Mar. … Read More “Kurt Elling Readies The Big Blind for NYC Premiere”
Ben Sidran Recounts His Seven Decades in Jazz
On the eve of his 75th birthday, singer/songwriter/pianist Ben Sidran decided to release a three-CD compilation of performances spanning the last 40 years or so. … Read More “Ben Sidran Recounts His Seven Decades in Jazz”
Lee Mergner Remembers Ira Sabin
I first met Ira Sabin in 1989. I had moved from my hometown of Philadelphia to the D.C. area to be with my then girlfriend, … Read More “Lee Mergner Remembers Ira Sabin”
Helen Sung: Words and Music
One of the most interesting collaborations in recent years between a world-class jazz musician and an acclaimed poet—the album Sung With Words—got off to a … Read More “Helen Sung: Words and Music”
Art Kane: A Great Day Frame by Frame
In 1958 Art Kane was a successful art director who had dabbled in professional photography and was itching to make it his full-time profession. Knowing … Read More “Art Kane: A Great Day Frame by Frame”
Brian Newman: Cincinnati Swing Meets Vegas
When trumpeter/singer Brian Newman had to come up with a title for his first album on Verve, he didn’t enlist any of the usual clichés. … Read More “Brian Newman: Cincinnati Swing Meets Vegas”
Ted Rosenthal’s Dear Erich: Grandmother to Son
Ted Rosenthal has a long and impressive résumé. The 58-year-old pianist was an early winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition and went on to … Read More “Ted Rosenthal’s Dear Erich: Grandmother to Son”
Oran Etkin: Music as Child’s Play
Lots of jazz artists and presenters like to talk about reaching a younger audience. But few go as far as clarinetist and saxophonist Oran Etkin, … Read More “Oran Etkin: Music as Child’s Play”
Nate Smith: Taking Jazz Ahead
At the Newport Jazz Festival in August, drummer Nate Smith is seemingly everywhere at once. Most artists are proud to do one set at the … Read More “Nate Smith: Taking Jazz Ahead”
Tony Bennett & Diana Krall: They Like a Gershwin Tune
Above: Tony Bennett and Diana Krall during the recording sessions for Love Is Here to Stay at Avatar Studios in New York. Photo: Mark Seliger. … Read More “Tony Bennett & Diana Krall: They Like a Gershwin Tune”
Earning the Songs of Bill Withers
Things are a little tense backstage midway through the big opening night concert at the Newport Jazz Festival, held at the International Tennis Hall of … Read More “Earning the Songs of Bill Withers”
JazzTimes 10: Greatest Jazz Cameos on Pop Songs
The presence of jazz players on non-jazz records constitutes a long tradition in American popular music, but it may have hit its peak in the … Read More “JazzTimes 10: Greatest Jazz Cameos on Pop Songs”
The Top 10 Jazz Album Covers of All Time
Quick, what do Andy Warhol, Peter Max, and Romare Bearden all have in common? Our headline gives away the answer, of course, because yes, all … Read More “The Top 10 Jazz Album Covers of All Time”
Michael Franks Is Happy to Be “Some Old Jazz Guy”
JazzTimes’ own Christopher Loudon once called Michael Franks “the trippy troubadour,” which has a nice alliterative ring to it that the literary singer/songwriter might well … Read More “Michael Franks Is Happy to Be “Some Old Jazz Guy””
Bill Charlap on the Jazz in July Series
Every summer as New York City sweats and steams its way through the latter part of July, a truly cool jazz event holds court at … Read More “Bill Charlap on the Jazz in July Series”
Joey DeFrancesco on Working With Van Morrison
Van Morrison’s love for jazz and blues is well documented, going back to his genre-bending classic Astral Weeks, recorded in 1968 and featuring bassist Richard … Read More “Joey DeFrancesco on Working With Van Morrison”
Chops: Sonny Rollins on the Way of “Way Out West”
When Sonny Rollins’ Way Out West was released by Contemporary Records in 1957, it got plenty of attention, and not just for its sharply funny … Read More “Chops: Sonny Rollins on the Way of “Way Out West””
Judy Carmichael: Jazz and the C Word (That’s Cancer)
With the publication of her memoir Swinger! A Jazz Girl’s Adventures from Hollywood to Harlem, Judy Carmichael has added one more title to her already … Read More “Judy Carmichael: Jazz and the C Word (That’s Cancer)”
Kurt Elling: Living the Questions
On a frigidly cold night in January, Kurt Elling opened his showcase set at Birdland in New York City by singing the first few verses … Read More “Kurt Elling: Living the Questions”
Live Review: 2018 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert
The themes of intergenerational support and the power of community rang loud and clear throughout the celebration of the 2018 class of NEA Jazz Masters, … Read More “Live Review: 2018 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert”