Lee Mergner is Editorial Content Producer for WBGO Newark Public Radio. Between 1990 and 2022, he served JazzTimes in a multitude of roles, including Editor and Publisher.
Lee Mergner on social media
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), based in Newark, has announced the lineup for the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, named for the legendary … Read More “2022 TD James Moody Jazz Festival Announces Lineup”
In an unveiling on August 11, 2022, the Royal Canadian Mint announced the creation of a new $1 coin honoring the pianist and longtime Canadian … Read More “Royal Canadian Mint Issues a New $1 Oscar Peterson Coin”
The Jazz St. Louis organization has just announced the appointment of Victor Goines as its new President and CEO, as of September 19, 2022. The … Read More “Victor Goines Named President and CEO of Jazz St. Louis”
Arthur’s Tavern, a former speakeasy jazz bar that was founded in 1937, has reopened after a renovation to retain the West Village venue’s vintage look … Read More “Arthur’s Tavern Reopens in New York City”
The Montclair Jazz Festival, produced by the Jazz House Kids organization and presented by BDP Holdings, has announced the lineup for its Downtown Jamboree, a … Read More “Montclair Jazz Festival Announces Lineup for Downtown Jamboree in September”
The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra have commissioned a new work by the noted Cuban-American multi-instrumentalist and composer Paquito … Read More “Wolf Trap and National Symphony Commission Work by Paquito D’Rivera”
The legacy of the late trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stańko will be celebrated at an all-star memorial concert on Sept. 18 at Roulette in New … Read More “Tomasz Stańko to Be Celebrated in NYC”
The Chicago Jazz Festival, one of the nation’s largest free jazz festivals, returns as an in-person event on September 1-4, 2022, with a full schedule … Read More “2022 Chicago Jazz Festival Schedule Announced”
Singer and actress Freda Payne is set to appear in Ella, First Lady of Song, a musical about jazz vocal legend Ella Fitzgerald, running Aug. … Read More “Freda Payne to Star in Musical About Ella Fitzgerald”
Pittsburgh native Roger Humphries has been named the recipient of the 2022 Living Legacy Jazz Award, presented by PECO (the Pa.-based energy company) in association … Read More “Roger Humphries Named Recipient of the Living Legacy Jazz Award”
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the recipients of its prestigious Jazz Masters fellowships for 2023. Regina Carter, Kenny Garrett, and Louis … Read More “2023 NEA Jazz Masters Announced”
When you’re on TV, everybody knows you, or at least thinks they know you. Take Kevin Eubanks, who was on NBC’s Tonight Show five nights … Read More “Kevin Eubanks’ Remarkable Life Journey”
Many jazz fans might be surprised to learn not only that there is a casino in Queens, N.Y. (the only such establishment within the borders … Read More “Louis Armstrong Art Exhibit Opens at Casino in Queens”
The Montclair Jazz Festival has announced its series of summer concerts to be held in downtown Montclair, N.J. The festival, which is produced by the … Read More “Montclair Jazz Festival Announces 2022 Summer Season”
Somi, who released the album Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba earlier this year, has been appearing at the New York Theatre Workshop in an … Read More “Somi’s Play About Miriam Makeba Running Off-Broadway”
The Vail Jazz organization has announced the names of the 12 young jazz musicians who have been selected to participate in the prestigious Vail Jazz … Read More “Vail Jazz Announces Students for 2022 Vail Jazz Workshop”
Pianist and composer Helen Sung is the winner of the 2022 Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, which was presented by the performing rights organization BMI … Read More “Helen Sung Wins BMI’s Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize”
The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. has just announced its 2022-2023 jazz season, which opens on October 16 with a special performance in the Concert … Read More “The Kennedy Center Announces 2022-2023 Jazz Season”
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival has announced the lineup for its Sept. 24-25 event, with more than 30 performances to take place at various venues … Read More “Hyde Park Jazz Festival in Chicago Returns”
Columbia University’s Center for Jazz Studies, in conjunction with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF), is presenting the 2022 Louis Armstrong International Continuum: Armstrong & … Read More “Armstrong International Continuum Presents Virtual Symposium and Concert”
The Mutual Mentorship for Musicians (M³) organization, founded by Jen Shyu and Sara Serpa in 2020, has announced the lineup for the M³ Festival, to … Read More “M³ Festival to Be Held In-Person in New York City”
The DC Jazz Festival has announced the three finalists for its annual DCJazzPrix Competition: Akua Allrich & the Tribe, the Jalen Baker Quartet, and the … Read More “DC Jazz Festival Announces DCJazzPrix Competition Finalists”
Smoke Jazz Club, the acclaimed New York City venue that was closed to indoor performances and dining for more than two years due to the … Read More “Smoke Jazz Club Reopens in NYC”
The Django Festival Allstars return for their annual run at the Birdland jazz club in New York City from July 12-17. The six nights of … Read More “Django Reinhardt NY Festival Returns to Birdland”
Carnegie Hall has announced the schedule for the first U.S. tour by its NYO Jazz ensemble, which will follow the release of their first full-length … Read More “Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz Set for Album Release and U.S. Tour”
On June 9, 2022, the Newark Museum of Art in Newark, N.J., will open two exhibits featuring jazz photographs. The first exhibit, Billie Holiday at … Read More “Two Jazz Photography Exhibits to Open at Newark Museum of Art”
For the last few years, the Monterey Jazz Festival has been producing an online interview series—Welcome to the Sands Box—hosted by Christian Sands. Among his … Read More “Monterey Jazz Festival Launches Listening Space Series with Gerald Clayton”
In late July, Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center will be hosting a series of concerts in honor of the 2020 and 2022 inductees … Read More “Jazz at Lincoln Center Celebrates Ertegun Hall of Fame Inductees”
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, which will be held in downtown Toronto from … Read More “TD Toronto Jazz Festival Announces 2022 Lineup”
