In Memoriam: Eric Jackson
On the night of July 17, 1987, the 20th anniversary of John Coltrane’s passing, I listened (as I frequently did in those days) to Eric … Read More “In Memoriam: Eric Jackson”
Mac Randall
Mac Randall served a the editor of JazzTimes from May 2018 through January 2023. Prior to that, he wrote regularly for the magazine. He has written about numerous genres of music for a wide variety of publications over the past 30 years, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The New York Observer, Mojo, and Guitar Aficionado, and he has worked on the editorial staffs of Musician, LAUNCH (now Yahoo! Music), Guitar One, Teaching Music, Music Alive!, and In Tune Monthly. He is the author of two books, Exit Music: The Radiohead Story and 101 Great Playlists. He lives in New York City.
Mac Randall on social media
Gearhead: More Roland 50th-Anniversary Rollouts
Remember back in the spring, when we reported on the Roland Corporation’s 50th anniversary and hinted that there would be multiple products launched this year … Read More “Gearhead: More Roland 50th-Anniversary Rollouts”
Gearhead: Welcome Back, NAMM (and Oberheim)
You’ve got to give the folks at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) some credit; they tried. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage … Read More “Gearhead: Welcome Back, NAMM (and Oberheim)”
JT Notes: Highlights Galore in Our Annual Guitar Issue
Forgive me if I’ve mentioned this before (perhaps repeatedly), but I’ve been playing guitar now for more than 40 years. So when the time comes … Read More “JT Notes: Highlights Galore in Our Annual Guitar Issue”
John Scofield Talks His Solo Debut and More
Nearly two decades before COVID-19 was even a twinkle in a pangolin’s eye—if in fact those endearing critters had any coronavirus connection at all—John Scofield … Read More “John Scofield Talks His Solo Debut and More”
At the Jazz Foundation Gala, Needs Met and Unmet
“When’s the next gig?” So spoke the trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and Strata-East Records founder Charles Tolliver after receiving the Jazz Foundation of America’s Lifetime Achievement … Read More “At the Jazz Foundation Gala, Needs Met and Unmet”
The Scene: Brooklyn’s Soapbox Gallery
Running a music venue was never one of Jimmy Greenfield’s life goals. A sculptor by trade, the 67-year-old Greenfield has had a long and deep … Read More “The Scene: Brooklyn’s Soapbox Gallery”
JT Notes: The Fate of the Leopolis Jazz Festival
First the good news: As you can see in our annual Festival Guide, there are plenty of jazz festivals scheduled to happen around the world … Read More “JT Notes: The Fate of the Leopolis Jazz Festival”
Gearhead: Introducing the Gibson Theodore
Unless you’re a certified guitar nerd, the name Ted McCarty (1909-2001) probably means nothing to you. But no matter who you are, there’s little doubt … Read More “Gearhead: Introducing the Gibson Theodore”
JT Notes: It Begins to Tell ’Round Midnight
What is a jazz film? Does it have to be a film about jazz and the people who play it? Or can it also be … Read More “JT Notes: It Begins to Tell ’Round Midnight”
A Banner Night for Jon Batiste at the 2022 Grammy Awards
When Jon Batiste was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards back in November, across a dizzying range of genres (including classical!), it seemed that the members … Read More “A Banner Night for Jon Batiste at the 2022 Grammy Awards”
The Scene: Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
If you were to ask most people what they’d want to be doing in the middle of a global pandemic, opening a jazz club in … Read More “The Scene: Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth, New Hampshire”
Gearhead: Roland Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
On April 18, 1972, the Roland Corporation was founded in Osaka, Japan. Its mission: to produce electronic instruments and accessories for musicians. Two years later, … Read More “Gearhead: Roland Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary”
JT Notes: The Passing of Don Heckman and Celebrating Our Wins
I was all ready to spend the duration of this column politely crowing. I had good reason. In December 2021, jazztimes.com reached an unprecedented peak … Read More “JT Notes: The Passing of Don Heckman and Celebrating Our Wins”
Norah Jones and Christian McBride Perform Together for the First Time
They’re two of the biggest stars in the current jazz firmament. They both developed their chops in prestigious high-school and college performing arts programs. They’re … Read More “Norah Jones and Christian McBride Perform Together for the First Time”
Jesse Palter Returns to Jazz
If Jesse Palter’s brisk, buoyant composition “Spinning ’Round” sounds familiar to you on first listen, there’s a reason for that: Other jazz singers like it … Read More “Jesse Palter Returns to Jazz”
JT Notes: An Odd Artist of the Year Overdue Ovation Trend
If an unusual thing happens once, most journalists will find it noteworthy. If that unusual thing happens twice, they’ll say it’s a trend. This may … Read More “JT Notes: An Odd Artist of the Year Overdue Ovation Trend”
JT Notes: Who Gets the Book?
This month’s musings were prompted by the arrival of a new book, Phil Freeman’s Ugly Beauty: Jazz in the 21st Century, and word of two … Read More “JT Notes: Who Gets the Book?”
Gearhead: Mapex Pays Tribute to Ralph Peterson Jr.
When drummer, bandleader, and music professor Ralph Peterson Jr. lost his six-year battle with cancer on March 1, 2021, at the age of only 58, … Read More “Gearhead: Mapex Pays Tribute to Ralph Peterson Jr.”
Artist’s Choice: Randy Klein and Alex Skolnick Talk Cuban-Chinese Cuisine
At first glance, Randy Klein and Alex Skolnick appear to be odd partners. Pianist/keyboardist Klein has a deep R&B and musical-theater background; guitarist Skolnick made … Read More “Artist’s Choice: Randy Klein and Alex Skolnick Talk Cuban-Chinese Cuisine”
JT Notes: What We’ve Lost and What We Haven’t
I don’t mean to sound like a complainer, or to rehash the complaints that countless others have already expressed before me, but wasn’t 2021 supposed … Read More “JT Notes: What We’ve Lost and What We Haven’t”
JazzTimes 10: Hip Jazz Books for Kids
What’s one of the best ways to make a jazz fan for life? Start early. The books listed below can help, and they’re just 10 … Read More “JazzTimes 10: Hip Jazz Books for Kids”
Gearhead: The Cuíca, Here’s the Rub
The word “percussion” comes from a Latin word meaning to beat or strike, which is exactly what you do with most percussion instruments. But there’s … Read More “Gearhead: The Cuíca, Here’s the Rub”
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle (Impulse!)
We live amid a golden age of archival jazz releases. Or is it becoming a glut? Historically significant tapes seem to be unearthed daily, discovered … Read More “John Coltrane: A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle (Impulse!)”
JT Notes: We Love You, George Wein
The news came just as we were closing the issue, too late to change any pages other than this one: George Wein, a man who … Read More “JT Notes: We Love You, George Wein”
Gearhead: The (Somewhat) Heroic Tale of the Wagner Tuba
It’s a big, heavy, low-pitched brass instrument. It can go oom-pah-pah, if that’s what you desire. But despite these familiar characteristics, and despite its name, … Read More “Gearhead: The (Somewhat) Heroic Tale of the Wagner Tuba”
JT Notes: Are We In or Out on Vaccination Requirements for Live Music?
In the context of jazz, the question posed above has a special significance. But that wasn’t what I was thinking of as I asked it … Read More “JT Notes: Are We In or Out on Vaccination Requirements for Live Music?”
Previously Unheard Live Recording of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme Out Oct. 8
The version of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme that we all know—recorded in Rudy Van Gelder’s Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, studio on December 9, 1964 … Read More “Previously Unheard Live Recording of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme Out Oct. 8″
Gearhead: Spotlight on the Sarrusophone
In the 21st century, intellectual property (IP) has become a hot-button issue for musicians and composers, specifically as it pertains to the distribution of music … Read More “Gearhead: Spotlight on the Sarrusophone”
JT Notes: Changes in the Pages
You may notice a few changes in this issue of JazzTimes. Our design team has been hard at work again, coming up with a revised … Read More “JT Notes: Changes in the Pages”