OP vs. BE: Setting Up the Piano Trio
Ever since jazz piano trios became a thing, there have traditionally been two principal ways of setting up the piano, bass, and drums on stage. … Read More “OP vs. BE: Setting Up the Piano Trio”
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
13 Tips for Watching Online Jazz Shows
A short time ago, I spent one week—seven days and seven long nights—watching as many online jazz shows and events as I possibly could. I … Read More “13 Tips for Watching Online Jazz Shows”
JT 50: The History of JazzTimes
JazzTimes did not start with a proposal, prospectus, or PowerPoint presentation. There was no capital investment. There was no particular strategic plan. It didn’t even … Read More “JT 50: The History of JazzTimes“
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Seven
When I tell people that for seven days, I’m watching as many live streams of jazz shows as I can, they ask, “Where do you … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Seven”
Looking Back at Looking Back: Our Best Artist-to-Artist Interviews
Over the years, we learned that sometimes it was best to have a musician interview another musician, because there would be an instant ease and … Read More “Looking Back at Looking Back: Our Best Artist-to-Artist Interviews”
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Six
Only two shows tonight. Hey, don’t judge. It’s Tuesday night. As I’ve written before, everyone playing and presenting jazz goes for the Thursday-through-Sunday period; after … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Six”
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Five
It’s Day Five and boy, are my eyes tired. Not my ears, though. Tonight, thanks to a recommendation from John and Suzie Ernesto of the … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Five”
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Four
After Saturday night’s marathon online jazz session, I was happy to have only four streams planned; one fell through because of a ticketing snafu on … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Four”
JT50: The July/August 2016 Issue of JazzTimes
We’d been doing oral histories on legendary artists for several years before we decided, in 2016, to use that same format to talk about a … Read More “JT50: The July/August 2016 Issue of JazzTimes“
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Three
When I initially came up with the premise for this seven-day series on live streams of jazz performances online, I had this fantasy that I … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Three”
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Two
Fortified for binge-watching by a diet of Coca-Cola, red wine, seltzer (you have to hydrate at a festival, even indoor ones), and homemade ice cream … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day Two”
Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day One
You think you have screen fatigue? Try watching dozens of jazz shows online over the course of a week. That’s the assignment I foolishly took … Read More “Jazz Is Alive Online, or My Week of Listening Virtually: Day One”
Mark Ruffin: The Storied Intersection of Jazz, Baseball, and Race
This year marks the 40th year of Mark Ruffin’s career as a jazz broadcaster and writer. Since 2007, Ruffin has been the program director of … Read More “Mark Ruffin: The Storied Intersection of Jazz, Baseball, and Race”
The Best of Before & After: #TimesUp Edition
Our Before & After listening sessions have always been big reader favorites; according to our surveys, B&A is consistently one of the first sections of … Read More “The Best of Before & After: #TimesUp Edition”
Shirazette Tinnin Beats the Odds
The word “resilience” well describes the life and career of Shirazette Tinnin. During the course of her 41 years, the drummer, whose latest album Sonic … Read More “Shirazette Tinnin Beats the Odds”
What’s in a Name?
Recently we received a press release for a new recording by vocalist Mark Murphy called Hiding Place. We were excited to hear some new, perhaps … Read More “What’s in a Name?”
Mark Murphy: Pop Structure with Jazz Freedom
I initially reached out to the 47-year-old guitarist and singer Mark Murphy for one reason and one reason only, and that was to ask a … Read More “Mark Murphy: Pop Structure with Jazz Freedom”
Jeff Hamilton, Drummer’s Drummer
In a video pulled together by Kendrick Scott and posted on social media during the pandemic, 39 top-notch jazz drummers play along, one by one, … Read More “Jeff Hamilton, Drummer’s Drummer”
Randy Brecker: Overdue Ovation
If a biopic or TV series of Randy Brecker’s life was produced in Hollywood, it would likely require multiple actors to successfully capture his varied … Read More “Randy Brecker: Overdue Ovation”
JT50: The July/August 1994 Issue of JazzTimes
The July/August ’94 issue was the first in which JazzTimes did a 1:1 interview with two prominent artists. Though new to us at the time, … Read More “JT50: The July/August 1994 Issue of JazzTimes“
The Detroit Jazz Festival Finds a Way
Back in April, shortly after the shutdown of just about every damn thing had begun across the nation, the Detroit Jazz Festival announced its 2020 … Read More “The Detroit Jazz Festival Finds a Way”
Chops: Secrets of Orchestral Writing
Many jazz artists have written music for large ensembles, from nonets all the way up to big bands of 16 pieces or more. But precious … Read More “Chops: Secrets of Orchestral Writing”
Bird Lives in a Cemetery
These days, any live gig with an actual in-person audience gets our attention here at JazzTimes. Still, we were sure that there was a typo … Read More “Bird Lives in a Cemetery”
JT 50: The December 2001 Issue of JazzTimes
Most of our special themed issues are planned well in advance, but in a few cases a theme arrives accidentally, from stories that were assigned … Read More “JT 50: The December 2001 Issue of JazzTimes“
Billy Childs Reveals the Influences on His Album Acceptance
Los Angeles-born and bred, Billy Childs has built a remarkable career as a pianist, composer, and arranger largely away from the New York jazz scene. … Read More “Billy Childs Reveals the Influences on His Album Acceptance“
JT 50: The December 1994 Issue of JazzTimes
Way back in 1994, JazzTimes was well into its third year as a glossy magazine, having made the transition from a newsprint tabloid in late … Read More “JT 50: The December 1994 Issue of JazzTimes“
John Scofield Honors Steve Swallow on New Album
John Scofield’s latest album Swallow Tales, his first as a sole leader for ECM, features nine compositions by his longtime mentor and friend Steve Swallow—who … Read More “John Scofield Honors Steve Swallow on New Album”
Gregory Porter and Don Was: Before & After
During the Blue Note at Sea cruise in late January, Don Was, famed record producer and president of Blue Note Records, sat down with one … Read More “Gregory Porter and Don Was: Before & After”
JT 50: The March 1995 Issue of JazzTimes
Writing about racism 25 years ago was just as challenging as it is now. Jazz has long been thought of as being on the right … Read More “JT 50: The March 1995 Issue of JazzTimes“
Toronto-Based Jazz and Arts Writer Christopher Loudon Dies at 62
The Canadian writer Christopher Loudon, whose features, columns, and reviews appeared regularly in JazzTimes for nearly 20 years, died on Sunday, May 17 in his … Read More “Toronto-Based Jazz and Arts Writer Christopher Loudon Dies at 62”