WLIW

PBS fundraising week: jazz & soul tv abounds

March 11, 2009 by Howard Mandel

What gets New Yorkers to watch and/or contribute to PBS? Jazz, blues, r&b -- American vernacular music, of course.I assume it's time for WLIW's spring fundraiser, for instance, because "New York Public Television" has scheduled for one evening (March 11) of prime time the smooth r&b couple Ashford and Simpson in performance at Feinstein's at Loews Regency; photogenic trumpeter Chris Botti performing with John Mayer, Josh Groban, Steve Tyler and the Boston Pops, and the 1959 broadcast "The Sound of Miles Davis," featuring music from the … [Read more...]

I'm a Chicago-born (and after 32 years in NYC, recently repatriated) writer, editor, author, arts reporter for National Public Radio, consultant and nascent videographer -- a veteran freelance journalist working on newspapers, magazines and websites, appearing on tv and radio, teaching at New York University and elsewhere, consulting on media, publishing and jazz-related issues. I'm president of the Jazz Journalists Association, a non-profit membership organization devoted to using all media to disseminate news and views about all kinds of jazz.
My books are Future Jazz (Oxford U Press, 1999) and Miles Ornette Cecil - Jazz Beyond Jazz (Routledge, 2008). I was general editor of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues (Flame Tree 2005/Billboard Books 2006). Of course I'm working on something new. . . Read More…

Howard Mandel on Whatever happened to International Jazz Day?: “And a good report it is, adding info from the scene. Thanks Lee. I've asked the IJD publicist to send…” May 2, 12:24
Lee Mergner on Whatever happened to International Jazz Day?: “JazzTimes did publish a report by Evan Haga from IJD in Havana: https://jazztimes.com/features/2017-international-jazz-day-global-concert/” May 2, 12:15
Howard Mandel on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “Wow, cool, David. Not sure I ever got to the Fillmore West (definitely didn't get to the Fillmore East). There…” Apr 28, 12:22
David Butterfield on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “I was at the Fillmore, high on Owsley for the 'Love In' concert. Been digging Charles ever since. Very nice…” Apr 28, 12:16
Howard Mandel on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “Interesting, Herb. The Jazz Discography Project cites about a dozen versions Lloyd has recorded of Forest Flower -- some prior…” Apr 27, 19:56

ESP Disks — origins of jazz beyond jazz

Reviewing a sleeping giant, ESP Disks before its early '00s revival Howard Mandel c 1997, published in issue 157, The Wire It was a time before psychedelics. Following the seismic cultural disruptions of the mid '50s, rock 'n' roll had hit a … [Read More...]

William Parker, my DownBeat feature from 1998

Howard Mandel c 1998/published by DownBeat, July 1998, under headline Beneath the Underdog (the editor's reference to Charles Mingus's autobiography): There's an anchor for New York's downtown free jazz and improv "wild bunch": his name is William … [Read More...]

Matthew Shipp, my feature for The Wire, 1998

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="IFeXJPobvykRyuU4dU68FilRPv0EE8oC"] This is a complete version of the feature on pianist Matthew Shipp I wrote for The Wire, published in February, 1998 Is this the face of New York's jazz avant now? Pianist Matt … [Read More...]

Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks

A 1990 interview with drummer Rashied Ali, about his relationship with John Coltrane. … [Read More...]

On The Corner program notes, Merkin Hall concert 5/25/09

Miles Davis intended On The Corner to be a personal statement, an esthetic breakthrough and a social provocation upon its release in fall of 1972. He could hardly have been more successful: the album was all that, though it has taken decades for its … [Read More...]