The Jazz Journalists Association is a membership organization founded in 1986. We promote the creation and dissemination of accurate, ethical, informed journali...
The Buzz: Old Wine, New Glasses - Bob Blumenthal with authors and scholars Ricky Riccardi and Fumi Tomita
This conversation between JJA members Bob Blumenthal, Ricky Ricciardi, and Fumi Tomita explores how jazz research has evolved through digital transformation. Ricciardi describes his journey researching Louis Armstrong's career, moving from physical archives and interviews for his first book to primarily digital resources like newspaper databases, digitized periodicals, and ancestry records for subsequent works. Tomita discusses researching early jazz by using both traditional sources and digital archives, explaining how this allowed him to rediscover overlooked musicians and challenge established narratives. Both authors share their detective work in reconciling conflicting historical accounts and discuss the revelations that emerged during their research—Ricciardi finding consistency in Armstrong's artistic approach throughout his career, and Tomita discovering early jazz's experimental nature and influence on free jazz.The conversation highlights valuable resources for jazz researchers, including newspaper and periodical databases, digitized oral histories from various institutions, and Archive.org's extensive collection. The guests discuss areas needing fresh research and emphasize how digital access has democratized jazz research, allowing deeper investigation into the music's complex evolution without leaving one's home.###Eight nominees for our 2025 Book of the Year Awards, and 15 Honorable Mentions, are posted at JJANews.org, along with other articles from our international membership. Please also take a look at The Jazz Omnibus: 21st Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association, available online and wherever books are sold.Don’t miss new episodes of The Buzz. Make sure you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts. For more from the Jazz Journalists Association, go to JJANews.org.
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The Buzz: Bilingual Jazz Journalism - Tomas Pena and Jose Masso, hosted by Michael Ambrosino
Tomas Peña, jazz journalist of breadth with unique ties to his Puerto Rican heritage, and José Massó, best known as a Boston broadcaster (and Jazz Hero) who takes a multi-media approach to full communication of the arts in life -- speak to JJA member Michael Ambrosino, producer of Los Olvidados, a radio documentary about Pan-Latin influences on jazz. Eight nominees for our 2025 Book of the Year Awards, and 15 Honorable Mentions, are posted at JJANews.org, along with other articles from our international membership. Please also take a look at The Jazz Omnibus: 21st Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association, available online and wherever books are sold.Don’t miss new episodes of The Buzz. Make sure you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts. For more from the Jazz Journalists Association, go to JJANews.org.
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The Buzz: Will Friedwald, multi-media deep-dive jazz expert, with Neil Tesser, writer-broadcaster-JJA board member
Will Friedwald does it all -- books on Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, jazz vocalists and the Great American Songbook; articles in publications including the Wall Street Journal; his own broadcasting platform and Substack, Slouching Towards Birdland. He speaks as winner of the 2024 JJA Jazz Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism to Chicago-based writer, broadcaster and JJA board member and Neil Tesser.Eight nominees for our 2025 Book of the Year Awards, and 15 Honorable Mentions, are posted at JJANews.org, along with other articles from our international membership. Please also take a look at The Jazz Omnibus: 21st Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association, available online and wherever books are sold.Don’t miss new episodes of The Buzz. Make sure you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts. For more from the Jazz Journalists Association, go to JJANews.org.
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Darius and Catherine Brubeck on South African jazz education
Playing The Changes: Jazz in An African University and On the Road is the account by Catherine and Darius Brubeck (daughter-in-law and son of Dave Brubeck) of their 25-year sojourn in South Africa, where they expanded the jazz landscape, establishing a music program at University of KwaZulu-Natal. Todd S. Jenkins interviews the couple in this latest Author's Series episode of The Buzz: The Podcast of the Jazz Journalists Association.Eight nominees for our 2025 Book of the Year Awards, and 15 Honorable Mentions, are posted at JJANews.org, along with other articles from our international membership. Please also take a look at The Jazz Omnibus: 21st Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association, available online and wherever books are sold.Don’t miss new episodes of The Buzz. Make sure you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts. For more from the Jazz Journalists Association, go to JJANews.org.
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Introducing The Jazz Omnibus: Lawrence Peryer interviews the JJA's editorial team
The Jazz Omnibus: 21st-Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association is a 600-page anthology published in hardcover, paperback and ebook editions by Cymbal Press. In this edition of The Buzz, Lawrence Peryer interviews the team that put it together -- editor David Adler, copy chief Terri Hinte, editorial advisor and JJA president Howard Mandel, and Cymbal Press principal Gary Stager about the intentions and processes behind creation of a volume representing two decades of experts' jazz coverage, meant to endure and enlighten for years to come. Eight nominees for our 2025 Book of the Year Awards, and 15 Honorable Mentions, are posted at JJANews.org, along with other articles from our international membership. Please also take a look at The Jazz Omnibus: 21st Century Photos and Writings by Members of the Jazz Journalists Association, available online and wherever books are sold.Don’t miss new episodes of The Buzz. Make sure you follow us wherever you listen to podcasts. For more from the Jazz Journalists Association, go to JJANews.org.
The Jazz Journalists Association is a membership organization founded in 1986. We promote the creation and dissemination of accurate, ethical, informed journalism on all jazz’s genres, and encourage innovative use of media to spur the growth, development and education of audiences for jazz. Public programs include Seeing Jazz Photography Master Classes, The Buzz podcast, celebrations of Jazz Heroes and Jazz Awards, and the website JJANews.org. Theme "Big Vic" composed by John Michaels Featuring Makaya McCraven Geoff Vidaland Mark Dunlap recorded by Doug Hewitt. Podcast edited by Wiz Petta.
Netherlands