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
577 Records, a label based in Italy, has announced a new residency program—“Sounds of Freedom”—in which five musicians will work with drummer Francisco Mela in … Read More “Francisco Mela to Host Residency Project in Italy”
The TD Toronto Jazz Fest has announced its lineup for the 35th edition of its storied festival held in downtown Toronto during June 24 – … Read More “TD Toronto Jazz Festival Announces 2022 Lineup”
Bay Area guitarist and composer John Schott will lead “’Round Midnight Reconsidered,” an all-night musical meditation celebrating Thelonious Monk’s iconic composition and paying respect to … Read More “John Schott Leads “’Round Midnight Reconsidered” Event on Shavout”
The Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) has announced that its 20th edition, “Brass Without Borders,” will be held at various venues in New York City … Read More “Festival of New Trumpet Music Celebrates 20th Anniversary in 2022”
The Tribeca Film Festival has announced that the world premiere of Hargrove, a documentary about the late trumpeter, will take place on Sunday, June 12, … Read More “Documentary About Roy Hargrove to Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival”
The lineup has been announced for the 45th edition of the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to be held on Saturday, June … Read More “Saratoga Jazz Festival Announces Lineup”
The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival has announced its lineup for Sept. 16-18, 2022. Now in its 12th year, the festival will open on Friday night … Read More “Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Announces Lineup”
The Jazz in July Festival has announced the lineup for its concerts on four nights (July 19, 21, 26 and 28) at the 92nd Street … Read More “Jazz in July Festival at 92Y Announces 2022 Lineup”
The Monterey Jazz Festival has announced that pianist and composer Kris Bowers has been commissioned to write and present a piece at the event in … Read More “Kris Bowers Commissioned by Monterey Jazz Festival”
At the Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach, Va., between April 8 and 10, the Vocal Jazz Summit convened in person for the first … Read More “Vocal Jazz Summit Debuts in Virginia Beach”
The last 10 years have seen a remarkable upsurge in the number of documentaries focusing on jazz—films about artists both deceased (Miles Davis, John Coltrane, … Read More “Inside the Jazz Documentary: The Challenges and Rewards”
Singer and songwriter Noel Paul Stookey has had a remarkable career. As the betwixt member of the iconic folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, Stookey … Read More “Noel Stookey Lets the Jazz Animal Loose”
Barbès, the little music club that could in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, celebrates its 20th anniversary in May with a series of shows … Read More “Barbès in Brooklyn Celebrates 20th Anniversary in May”
The Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) has announced the programming for its 65th edition on September 23-25, 2022. The lineup features a broad cross-section of contemporary … Read More “65th Monterey Jazz Festival Announces September Lineup”
Let’s get this out of the way: The Savannah Music Festival is not a jazz festival. Held over the course of 17 days in late … Read More “Jazz Lives at the Savannah Music Festival”
Candid Records, a label founded in 1960 by bandleader Archie Bleyer as a jazz subsidiary to his Cadence Records, has come back to life in … Read More “Candid Records Relaunches with Five Iconic ’60s Jazz & Blues Recordings”
Today the Newport Jazz Festival announced the lineup for its 2022 edition, which will take place as usual on the grounds of Fort Adams State … Read More “Newport Jazz Festival Reveals 2022 Lineup”
Randall Kline, who founded SFJAZZ in 1983, has announced that he will be stepping down as its Executive Artistic Director in November 2023. The organization, … Read More “SFJAZZ Founder and Executive Director Randall Kline to Resign in 2023”
Singer/songwriter Norah Jones has announced a 20-city tour that opens June 20 in Troutdale, Ore., and ends August 4 in Forest Hills, N.Y. In addition, … Read More “Norah Jones Announces Summer Tour”
Since Miles Davis’ death in 1991, his estate has been careful about endorsing products that use his name. There were the Miles Davis Tribute Jazz … Read More “Custom Miles Davis Eyewear Now Available”
Since releasing his debut album in 1992 for Mesa/Bluemoon, Rick Braun has established himself as one of the most popular and prolific artists within the … Read More “Thirty Years In, Rick Braun Is Eponymous at Last”
It could be argued that the most underrecognized person in jazz recording and performance is not the producer, the live sound engineer, or the recording … Read More “Chops: Piano Tuning and Jazz”
For better or worse, Brian Jackson’s name will be forever tied to his symbiotic collaboration with Gil Scott-Heron. Mostly for better, because the two produced … Read More “Overdue Ovation: Brian Jackson Emerges from Behind the Curtain”
When putting together her latest project—Sing a Song of Bird, a dynamic production that features Charlie Parker compositions with new arrangements and lyrics—Roseanna Vitro nearly … Read More “Overdue Ovation: Roseanna Vitro Blends Skill with Generosity”
As my friends and family well know, I take holiday music seriously. Too seriously, perhaps. Mostly because for the last 15 years I’ve put together … Read More “2021 Holiday Jazz Album Roundup”
Since her arrival on the jazz scene in the early 1990s, vocalist Kate McGarry has carved out a unique niche, respected by her fellow singers … Read More “Kate McGarry Explores the Music of Her Childhood to Deal with Contemporary Issues”
The Woodshed Network, an organization created in 2018 by Dee Dee Bridgewater and her daughter and manager Tulani Bridgewater-Kowalski to connect, support, educate, and mentor … Read More “Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Woodshed Network Residency Program Now Open”
Don Vappie, the New Orleans-based four-string banjo virtuoso, has been awarded the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize. Vappie, who has performed with the Preservation Hall … Read More “Don Vappie Wins the Steve Martin Banjo Prize”
For drummer Willie Jones III, Fallen Heroes is more than just the name of his most recent album. The title also relates deeply to his … Read More “Willie Jones III: From the World Stage to the World’s Stages”
A musician’s musician, trombonist Ed Neumeister has not only played with several of the great big bands in modern jazz—including those led by Ellington, Hampton, … Read More “Ed Neumeister Learns by Playing”
