Ken Dryden

Buy up labels and delete their catalogs en masse... What a mess!

I hosted Timeless Jazz out of my collection on WUTC-FM betwen 1987 and 2002 and it returned to the station beginning February 3. It airs on WUTC.org (88.1 FM in greater Chattanooga Sundays from 2 to 4 pm ET, the HD-2 broadcast can be heard on Wednesdays from 10 am to 12 noon). The program won't always have a specific topic, though for Sunday, Feburary 17, I will be focusing on Japanese CDs exclusively. No podcasts as yet, but we are working on that. I decided that it was silly to be the only one enjoying portions of a collecton accumulated over 45+ years. I will likely include some interviews, some of which were previously aired but with different music, others have never been broadcast. I plan to tape new interviews as well. I hope you'll tune in to the show.

It is always fun to see yourself cited in a new book and/or thanked in the author's preface.

I have rarely given much thought to saving press kits, except for some that went far beyond a glossy artist photo and the press bio. I didn't save most of the photos though some have the outline of the CDs packed with them. I usually save the ones that I have written, though I did keep the one that came with the first 10 CD Billie Holiday set.

I have rarely given much thought to saving press kits, except for some that went far beyond d a glossy artist photo and the press bio. I didn't save most of the photos though some have the outline of the CDs packed with them.

I wrote the liner notes for this 2 LP set, which was available only by pre-order as a limited edition. Obviously Louisiana Music Factory in the French Quarter ordered a good number of them, but I don't know how widely it will be available at retail. https://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/shop/vinyl-long-play/ellis-marsalis-an-80th-birthday-celebration-vinyl-2-lp-set/

Great news. I never saw in person, but he was a delightful phone interview.

I can't say she is among my favorite vocalists, but then again, neither is Gregory Porter.

I think there are only around 150-175 critics voting in the NPR poll. Francis Davis invited me some time ago, as I have been voting since at least 2008.

One thing I can tell you is not every voter was sent or has heard each release. I had to go through quite a few titles in the best releases before I found anything that I own.

That's a nice surprise. Maybe Zev will uncover some of the things that Michael Cuscuna couldn't find, no doubt many of which were misfiled or mislabeled, as is always the case when jazz labels get swallowed up by conglomerates.

I interviewed Ted Rosenthal on December 20th and it was published today on AllAboutJazz.com. Most of the interview is about his jazz opera Dear Erich, inspired by the letters that Ted's German grandmother wrote to his father after he fled the Nazis to come to the U.S. It premieres in New York City this Wednesday, January 9th. Additional videos of earlier readings with music can be found on the website DearErich.com. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ted-rosenthal-dear-erich-a-jazz-opera-ted-rosenthal-by-ken-dryden.php

I reviewed Chris Beck's recent CD and can recommend it. I've only heard one track by Veronica Swift on another artist's CD, but Ken Peplowski told me she is one of his favorite vocalists.

I voted but haven't seen the cumulative results, which Francis Davis usually posts before year's end. Maybe he had a hectic December...

I will have to get it, since Andy LaVerne is well represented in my collection.

Yvonne was my editor at Hot House when she replaced Paul Blair after hi sudden death. Other then short conversations during jazz conferences we attended, I really didn't get to know much about her background, though I knew of her skills in fundraising and promoting live jazz. She was a talented editor, too.

Here is the obit that Gwen Kelley, Publisher of Hot House Jazz Magazine, shared via email: Yvonne Ervin, Copy Editor for Hot House Jazz magazine, Executive Director of the Tucson Jazz Festival Dead at 59 https://syncopatedtimes.com/yvonne-ervin/ By Joe Bebco Yvonne C. Ervin, 59, died after liver transplant surgery on Wednesday night at the Mayo Clinic in Pheonix. Originally from Illinois, she double majored in journalism and saxophone at the University of Arizona and stayed in the area to work at the Arizona Daily Star. A certified fundraising executive, Ervin raised more than $10 million dollars for worthwhile organizations during her fundraising career. Working as a volunteer for eight of nine years as executive director of the Tucson Jazz Society (1989-1998) she grew the organization from 500 members with a $50,000 budget, to 2,100 members with a $250,000 budget sponsoring 42 concerts a year. During that time she was also the marketing director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and for a year, marketing director of the Arizona Dance Theater. She helped establish Primavera: A Celebration of Women in the Arts, an all-women festival where she could often be heard on saxophone with her ensemble Bitches Brew. The group has been recognized by Tucson’s Musicians Hall of Fame. She also co-founded the bi-national Charles Mingus Hometown Music Festival. While still in her 20s she served as Vice President of the American Federation of Jazz Societies. She was also the Secretary of the Executive Board of the International Association of Jazz Educators. Since 1989 she has been the Executive Director of the Western Jazz Presenters Network, a coalition of 45 jazz festivals and venues in the West. She co-founded the Jazz Journalists Association and has long served as its Vice President. She has interviewed more than 150 jazz legends for numerous news outlets in Arizona and nationally. Many of her interviews have been archived by the Library of Congress. She hosted jazz radio programs for more than 20 years. She is also a notable photographer, something that gave her great pride. She has worked extensively as a presenter leading seminars on fundraising, audience development, and marketing for numerous institutions including the Kennedy Center. In 1998 she moved to New York City where she held top development positions at several important community organizations fighting drug abuse and teen pregnancy. She also established herself with the regional jazz community before returning to Tucson in 2011. In 2014 she began working on the Tucson Jazz Festival, which held its inaugural event in January 2015. Her current positions included; treasurer of the board of the Santa Cruz Alliance for the Arts, Executive Director of the Tucson Jazz Festival, editor of Hot House magazine, which serves the New York City area, Executive Director of the Western Jazz Presenters Network, Vice President of the Jazz Journalists Association, and other important roles on boards and behind the scenes. The Tucson Jazz Music Foundation has announced the creation of a memorial scholarship for girls in Ervin’s name. The scholarship is open to girls 10 to 17. Applications are available through the foundation’s website, tjmfdn.org/scholarships.

It's a shame that I only have had the opportunity to hear Dave Liebman in person twice. But I have HutchFan to thank for letting me know about the concert in Duluth, Georgia, which was a lot closer for me than driving to Nashville and enduring a time change as well. It turned out the most of the Duluth concert ended up on the double live CD released by Liebman on Whaling City Sound, it was a great evening and HutchFan and I have gotten to be good firiends. Glad to be of help any way that i can.

Jim: It refers to Eugene Gregan, the Painter. A complete track list is posted here, though I didn't scan the entire booklet. https://www.discogs.com/Dave-Liebman-To-My-Masters/release/12975780 Dave Liebman confirmed that this is a private issue which won't be sold to the public. Considering my wife, yes I am! But it was a great surprise to get this CD from Dave Liebman. I was honored when he asked for a longer edit of the interview I did with him for The New York City Jazz Record, which is available on his website. He is easily one of the most diverse and fascinating musicians that I have ever encountered.

This nice surprise landed in my mailbox yesterday. Since there was no accompanying press release, I emailed Lydia Liebman to ask her more about it. She replied that this release was intended for her father's friends and media who have long supported his work, so it isn't planned for general distribution or public sale. All unaccompanied improvisations, though compositions which inspired some of them are listed. Fascinating music!

I knew he had toured Japan a lot. I never got to interview him, but I got to hang with him the one year that he played the Atlanta Jazz Party.

I thought that those many CDs that he made for Venus we're recorded in the US. Were there others made in Japan? I know that he and his wife, Meredith d'Ambrosio, split their time between homes I. Wilton Manors, Florida and New England.

My wife's response is often "Why haven't you placed this CD for me?" My music library is in a separate basement room and I don't usually leave many CDs on the other two levels of our house.

I heard Tardo Hammer with Lee Hudson and Steve Ellington tonight at Smalls, the the tail end of a jam session at the Earrinn featuring Scott Robinson.

Just got back from hearing 2 sets at Kitano by Jerry Bergonzi, with Bruce Barth, Harvie S, Victor Lewis and Phil Grenadier. Still making plans for tomorrow, to the Vanguard on Monday...