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Jazz Notes TM The Journal of the Jazz Journalists AssociationSM Vol. 19, No. 3 • Autumn 2008 Growing the organization through new media, renewed energy. From the Editor 3 Letter to the Editor 4 JJA 2.0 n the aftermath of a highly success- pal Michael Ricci, newmusicbox.org edi- Doug Ramsey: 5 ful 12th annual Jazz Awardssm, the JJA tor and publisher Frank J. Oteri, and JJA A Lifetime of Achievement I is taking a close look at itself, hoping members Lara Pellegrinelli and Joe Petru- to consolidate and strengthen its positions celli are among those who have chimed in By Ken Dryden and move ahead. The board, officers and with comments, mostly aiming at helping active contributors to the JJA want to ex- the JJA’s media and message be at the A Conversation with 7 pand the organization’s leadership cadre Wolfram Knauer and new membership, reconceive the JJA website, repurpose Jazz Notes and come By W. Royal Stokes up with relevant programs in response to issues regarding arts journalism, pressed Lourdes Delgado Hear Me Roar 9 by contemporary digital platforms that are determining the shape of journalism By Claire Daly as a profession, affecting all of us. One major shift of responsibilities is the Jazzing Caesarea 10 assignment of New York-based member President’s By Dan Morgenstern Eugene Marlow as our new JJA treasur- er — accompanied by the JJA board and Report News of Members 11 membership’s great thanks to Arnold Jay Smith for a dozen years of invaluable Howard Mandel service, during which he kept the books New Members 12 during the organization’s transition to forefront of how the arts can be covered legal nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, docu- now. Webmaster Whit Blauvelt, who built mented expenses and income on projects jazzhouse.org from the ground up and has Book Reviews 13 including the Jazz Awards and instituted maintained it devotedly, is in on the plans, By Kalamu ya Salaam, the JJA’s PayPal account. Arnold will be too. Your comments are welcome — but Bridget Arnwine, Michele Drayton stepping up to a new raft of duties, to be you have to be approved by an adminis- and David Franklin announced, probably having to do with trator to view our ongoing Google.doc, membership and promotion of the orga- http://tinyurl.com/6ryple. So if you want IN THIS ISSUE IN nization itself. to, please email [email protected] Furthermore: A committee has convened and you’ll be ok’d to post ideas. to study jazzhouse.org with the mandate So far, desires have been voiced that the of determining a structure that will best JAZZ NOTES HAS GONE DIGITAL. website improve member benefits by 1) reflect the makeup and needs of our or- facilitating members’ networking and This issue of Jazz Notes is ganization. Jazz Notes co-editors David communications, with easier bulletin available in PDF only. Adler and Forrest Bryant, JJA vice presi- board and RSS features; 2) promoting us To download previous issues or to dent and jazzhouse.org managing editor and our works to the public, including as- discuss this change, visit James Hale, independent media consul- www.jazzhouse.org tant J. A. Kawell, allaboutjazz.com princi- continued on next page | » » | PRESIDENT’S REPORT: from previous page signment editors and other potential ipe for a party was right. And that the Jazz Notes clients, potentially with a members’ JJA walked away with a small margin profile section, and 3) increasing the of profit from the benefit was icing on the quarterly journal of the focus on professional news of work op- the cake. portunities and business suggestions. Jazz Journalists Association We have the opportunity to rework In addition to those who attended Jazz Notes simultaneously, imagining the Jazz Awards in New York, the JJA it less as a quarterly journal and more touched many honorees who couldn’t as a regular newsletter, drawing recipi- be there. A-Team Awards inductee Phil E ents (members-only as it is now, unless Nimmons of Thornhill, Ontario sent we agree to modify that policy) back to the JJA a note of thanks for a “wonder- further information and postings at the ful surprise. I’m profoundly moved....” Editor Dr. Herb Wong, who received his award JJA website. David R. Adler from JJA member Andy Gilbert onstage These may seem like overly technical at a concert performance at Stanford items to take up in my President’s Re- University, was grateful in several Associate Editor port, but as the most public face of the phone discussions, and at the time of James Hale JJA, our deployment of web resources this writing Lauren Deutsch and Dick is crucial to demonstrating that jazz Wang of the Jazz Institute of Chicago journalism is part of a new era of com- were eager to get their statuettes on- Art Director munications, and that we are masters, stage at the Chicago Jazz Festival over Forrest Dylan Bryant rather than victims, of change. We Labor Day weekend. assume the confidence to assert this, after once again producing the only If the Jazz Awards is the most high- Editorial Consultants substantive, independent awards event profile event the JJA initiates, we Howard Mandel that honors a comprehensive range of would like to compete with ourselves jazz–related endeavors. by originating more Jazz Matters pan- W. Royal Stokes els, mentoring programs, educational To have Hank Jones and Joe Lovano, discussions or documents, and perhaps David Franklin Roseanna Vitro and Mark Soskin, the an arts-journalism-wide conference Miller Quartet, Igmar Thomas and on significant topics ranging from the the Cypher and pianist Art Tatum (in aesthetic to the practical. As I write the form of a renewed masterpiece repeatedly, such programming requires recording) in one place to entertain a JJA member input. So do our plans to Editorial Correspondence standing-room-only audience of emi- collect on dues that seem to be long in nent jazz musicians, journalists, pro- arrears, to enlist new members in the David R. Adler ducers-presenters, festival and record JJA and to determine were we want the 2122 Kater Street company principals and A-Team Award organization to go. There is no time Philadelphia, PA 19146-1215 inductees (including NEA Chairman like right now to decide you’ll be more (646) 539-8622 Dana Gioia, Dr. Valerie Capers and active in the JJA this year, that you re- [email protected] Wendy Oxenhorn of the Jazz Foun- alize working together with other jazz dation of America) is one measure of journalists toward common goals could success. To host Jazz Awards winners, help you prosper in your own career. nominees and presenters including Roy An idea about what you’d like to see Haynes, Maria Schneider, George Wein, the organization do, and a few hours to Marty Sheller, Daniel Smith, Candido help the JJA do it, go a long way toward Camero, Frank Wess, Joe Locke, David advancing your own goals — really! Berger, Nate Chinen, WYSP’s Linda Ask any JJA board member or officer, © 2008 Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. Yohn, Marty Ehrlich, Anat Cohen, the All rights reserved. Reproduction of this they’ll tell you. Or better yet, just take it publication, as a whole or in any part, Litchfield Jazz Festival’s Vita Muir, Ze- for granted, and decide it’s worth your without prior written permission of the Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. is prohibited. nph Reperformance, WBGO, Brother while. Then get in touch with me, or Thelonious Beer, Boosey and Hawkes, jazz journalists association, who asked any of the board members or officers, you, anyway? and jazz awards are service Iceberg Vodka and so many more so we can put the organization we’ve marks or registered service marks of the friends in the house was another — a Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. jazz notes built into operation for you. is a trademark and service mark of the Jazz treat the JJA was proud to afford and Journalists Association, Inc. All other marks enjoy. That everyone was well-fed and Best, are the property of their respective owners. socially engaged demonstrated the rec- President Howard JAZZ NOTES • Vol. 19, No. 3 — Autumn 2008 2 Jazz Journalists Goodbye Philly, Not Farewell Association ew York remains an unparal- eration Front are staking new ground promoting the interests of leled jazz mecca, but there’s while Philly’s straightahead engine journalists covering jazz N really something to be said continues to rev, thanks to Mickey Ro- for getting out of town. In April 2007, ker, Sid Simmons, Bootsie Barnes, Lar- c/o Village Postal for reasons pertaining to marriage, I ry McKenna and others on the scene at 151 1st Avenue moved to Philadelphia, immersing my- Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus. New York, NY 10003 self in another jazz and improvised mu- More than anything, Philly reinforced sic scene, making new friends and con- [email protected] my view that openness to all music, tacts, and seeing life and art through a jazz and beyond, is not just spiritually Board of Directors strikingly different prism. I detailed my first impressions in this space, back in Howard Mandel summer of that year. I revisit the sub- President & Executive Director ject now, because in September 2008, James Hale, Vice President my wife and I are moving back to New Noah Kalina York. Forrest Dylan Bryant Susan Fox You won’t find me kicking and scream- Gary Giddins ing. The Apple and I have been a pair Reuben Jackson since 1987, and every time I’ve traveled Fred Jung home in the last 18 months, it’s like I never left.