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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 Guitarist Kenny Burrell shouldn’t be in trouble. But he is.: “The problems are most immediately financial, resulting in fears of eviction and homelessness, caused by losses detailed in the GoFundMe…” May 16, 15:07
G. C. Szmulewicz on Guitarist Kenny Burrell shouldn’t be in trouble. But he is.: “So what seems to be the problem ??” May 16, 13:40
Diane S Gordon on Guitarist Kenny Burrell shouldn’t be in trouble. But he is.: “Yeah, I was surprised to hear this, especially since I know that he is a professor at UCLA. Apparently, there…” May 13, 08:54
e on Luminous PoKempner pix of Sun Ra’s celestial music: “Yes - DM Hotep on guitar and Henry Grimes on bass.” Dec 27, 12:35
Diane Moser on Luminous PoKempner pix of Sun Ra’s celestial music: “Thanks for sharing these photos Howard, they are beautiful! Best to you!” Dec 25, 22:43

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...]

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