Unconfirmed reports continue to filter out of Silver Spring, Maryland, that Jazz Times magazine’s precarious advertising revenue position will force it to cease publication. In his latest post on the matter, my artsjournal.com colleague Howard Mandel quotes a recently dismissed Jazz Times associate editor as saying that “it’s doubtful the magazine would be able to survive in its present format.” To read Howard’s posts on the situation, go here.
Ira Sabin founded Radio Free Jazz in 1970 as an adjunct to his retail record business. I began contributing reviews and articles in 1975 when it was printed on newsprint in a tabloid format. I have no clear notion of how many hundred thousand words I published there before and after it morphed into the slick magazine that became Jazz Times, gave Down Beat a run for its money and consistenty won awards. For a variety of reasons, I haven’t contributed to Jazz Times in the past year or so, but if it disappears I will be saddened by a major loss to the community of listeners who value the music. I hope that efforts to save the magazine succeed.
Bad Times At Jazz Times
June 6, 2009 by
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
I have learned to allow and understand that all good things birthed in time and space, come to an end. But as a loyal reader of Ira Sabin’s creation since the “tabloid” days I will definately miss this important “hang” every month!
One evening in the early to mid 70′s after I had finished teaching my jazz piano classes at the New School for Social Research, I bought the “tabloid” at the 6th avenue and 4th street subway newspaper stand, hopped on the “F” train and headed to my Park Slope apartment in Brooklyn. Browsing through the paper on the train I came across a huge photo of myself smiling like an all-American football star and a full “tabloid” page and 1/2 feature on my work. I read it 4 times and nearly missed my stop! This article was a complete surprise to me. It meant that Ira was the kind of jazz reporter/journalist who kept abreast of the up-and- coming cats and made it a point to write about who he thought deserved to be exposed to his readers. And he never alerted me to look out for the feature.
No”advertorialisms” in those days Doug. When Jazz Times moved operations to Maryland, I used to phone Ira just to chat for a few minutes. He never sounded rushed or too busy. I still miss him and will certainly miss the JT news and main features unless we can save it.
Let’s do a concert to raise funds to keep it afloat at least another year. Wadda ‘ya say? For Ira’s sake.
(Mr. Reilly’s web site is: http://www.jackreillyjazz.com — DR)