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”
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
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”
Clark Sommers Pivots for Unpredictability
There’s something about jazz musicians from Chicago. A certain physicality mixed with intelligence, as well as a blend of earthiness and urbanity. Bassist Clark Sommers, … Read More “Clark Sommers Pivots for Unpredictability”
JT 50: The January/February 1992 Issue of JazzTimes
The first JazzTimes issue of 1992 was an important one in the magazine’s history simply because of the cover story on the legacy of Miles … Read More “JT 50: The January/February 1992 Issue of JazzTimes“
Mike Karn: Switching Places in the Band
Bassist Mike Karn has a doppelgänger: a NYC-based saxophonist, strongly influenced by Joe Lovano and Sonny Rollins, who released albums as a leader on Criss … Read More “Mike Karn: Switching Places in the Band”
JT 50: The September 1997 Issue of JazzTimes
Perhaps no single issue of JazzTimes got more attention from the jazz community than the September 1997 edition, which featured a 14-page section called “Who’s … Read More “JT 50: The September 1997 Issue of JazzTimes“
Uri Caine Celebrates the Legacy of Octavius Catto
Uri Caine is not afraid of challenges. Whether it’s playing improvisational Jewish music with John Zorn, jamming jazz-funk with Christian McBride and Questlove in the Philadelphia … Read More “Uri Caine Celebrates the Legacy of Octavius Catto”
Ranky Tanky: Celebrating the Spirituality & Rhythms of Gullah Culture
When the band Ranky Tanky released its eponymous debut album in 2015, the response was remarkable. Seemingly overnight, this South Carolina group that celebrates the … Read More “Ranky Tanky: Celebrating the Spirituality & Rhythms of Gullah Culture”
Christian McBride: The Long Birth of a Movement
Christian McBride may very well be the hardest working man in jazz, a title that would certainly please him as a devoted James Brown historian … Read More “Christian McBride: The Long Birth of a Movement”
James Taylor & John Pizzarelli: Setting a Standard
John Pizzarelli was not expecting a call from James Taylor. Sure, the jazz guitarist and singer had recorded with Taylor on his October Road and … Read More “James Taylor & John Pizzarelli: Setting a Standard”
Gerald Veasley: Everybody Has Something to Say
Like another Philadelphia-bred bassist—Christian McBride—Gerald Veasley wears a lot of hats. He started playing professionally in the late ’70s with the fusion band Reverie, and … Read More “Gerald Veasley: Everybody Has Something to Say”
Oscar Peterson’s Africa Suite Comes to Life in Toronto
The late Oscar Peterson surely would have been proud to see his Africa Suite performed in public for the first time. During a chilly night … Read More “Oscar Peterson’s Africa Suite Comes to Life in Toronto”
JT 50: The March 2006 Issue of JazzTimes
The March 2006 issue was the first one in which we ran a section of Farewell tribute pieces about those who had died during the … Read More “JT 50: The March 2006 Issue of JazzTimes“
JT 50: The September 2000 Issue of JazzTimes
For each issue of JazzTimes in 2020—our 50th-anniversary year—we’ll be publishing a JT 50 column, which takes a quick look back at a significant issue … Read More “JT 50: The September 2000 Issue of JazzTimes“
Chops: Spotlight on the Background
Morgan Neville’s 2013 Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom nicely captured the rewards and challenges of being a backing singer for successful rock and … Read More “Chops: Spotlight on the Background”
Mary Ann Topper, Manager of Noted Jazz Artists, Dies at 79
Mary Ann Topper, manager to numerous notable jazz artists including Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, Jane Monheit, and Ron Carter, died on Nov. 14 … Read More “Mary Ann Topper, Manager of Noted Jazz Artists, Dies at 79”
JazzTimes 10: Great Jazz Memoirs
The genre of memoirs by jazz musicians is a rich one, filled with tales of trials and tribulations as well as success stories. To make … Read More “JazzTimes 10: Great Jazz Memoirs”
Fred Taylor, Boston’s Beloved Jazz Impresario, Dies at 90
Jazz impresario Fred Taylor, who presented legends and emerging artists alike in the Boston area for more than five decades, died on Oct. 26. He … Read More “Fred Taylor, Boston’s Beloved Jazz Impresario, Dies at 90”
The Baltimore Jazz Collective: Building a Community
With the opening of the jazz club Keystone Korner Baltimore earlier this year, Todd Barkan, its co-owner and artistic director, realized that the venue needed … Read More “The Baltimore Jazz Collective: Building a Community”
Sean Jones: A Challenging Life
Sean Jones is a man in motion. At 6 p.m. on a Wednesday evening in early summer, the trumpeter is sitting in a dressing room … Read More “Sean Jones: A Challenging Life”