Excerpts from David Rife’s Jazz Fiction: Take Two – Vol. 9: “Heroic Quests”

A substantial number of novels and stories with jazz music as a component of the story have been published over the years, and the scholar David J. Rife has written short essay/reviews of them. In this ninth edition of excerpts from his book, Rife writes about the “quest” theme in contemporary jazz fiction, where long-lost instruments and rumored recordings take the place of more dramatic artifacts like the Holy Grail.

Jazz History Quiz #178

In addition to co-leading a quintet with Zoot Sims, this tenor saxophonist may be best known as the man who replaced Herbie Steward as one of the “Four Brothers” in Woody Herman’s Second Herd. Who is he?

“An Evening with Michael Bloomfield” – a true blues story by David Eugene Everard

The author recounts his experience meeting and interviewing the great blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield in 1974…

The Sunday Poem: “The Son” by Peter Mladinic

Have you ever listened to your father,
Jackie Wilson’s rendition of “Tenderly”?
Several times? Well, that’s good.
The last I listened, it came through the dash
of my Wrangler at a busy intersection,

“Oscar” – a poem by Connie Johnson

I don’t want to stay woke
Oscar Peterson lulls me back to sleep
Sailing / swinging / meticulous
copacetic groove

Announcing the book publication of Kinds of Cool: An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry

The first Jerry Jazz Musician poetry anthology published in book form includes 90 poems by 47 poets from all over the world, and features the brilliant artwork of Marsha Hammel and a foreword by Jack Kerouac’s musical collaborator David Amram. The collection is “interactive” (and quite unique) because it invites readers – through the use of QR codes printed on many of the book’s pages – to link to selected readings by the poets themselves, as well as to historic audio and video recordings (via YouTube) relevant to many of the poems, offering a holistic experience with the culture of jazz.

“I Remember Clifford” – a short story by Mark Craemer

A young trumpet player in Chicago struggles with the challenges of finding his own voice as an artist

On the Turntable — The “Best Of the ‘Best Of’” in 2024 jazz recordings

Our annual year-end compilation of jazz albums oft mentioned by a wide range of critics as being the best of 2024

The Sunday Poem: “Future Retrospective Riffs (for Joe McPhee)” by Stephen C. Middleton

Spanish & flourish
Intricacies of ‘Pablo’ & ‘A Future Retrospective’
Of ziggurat / Giralda …architecture
Polyphony – bebop & free

“What one song best represents your expectations for 2025?” Readers respond…

What are your hopes, anxieties, expectations for 2025?  How do you see it playing out? Readers respond to the question, “What one song best represents your expectations for 2025?”

Jerrice J. Baptiste’s 2025 Jazz Poetry Calendar

Jerrice J. Baptiste’s 12-month 2025 calendar of jazz poetry winds through the upcoming year with her poetic grace while inviting us to wander through music by the likes of Hoagy Carmichael, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Sarah Vaughan,  Melody Gardot and Charlie Parker.

In Memoriam: “Departures to the Final Arms Hotel in 2024” – poetic tributes, by Terrance Underwood

2024 produced its share of losses of legendary jazz musicians. Terrance Underwood pays poetic homage to a handful who have touched his life, imagining their admittance to the Final Arms Hotel, a destination he introduces  in his prelude.

The Sunday Poem: “Don’t Worry About the Labels” by Mike Mignano

Quintessentially American
Scores of differing mood
Even named by temperature
Hot and cool include
Categories unmemorizable

Interview with Jonathon Grasse: author of Jazz Revolutionary: The Life and Music of Eric Dolphy

The multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy was a pioneer of avant-garde technique. His life cut short in 1964 at the age of 36, his brilliant career touched fellow musical artists, critics, and fans through his innovative work as a composer, sideman and bandleader. Jonathon Grasse’s Jazz Revolutionary is a significant exploration of Dolphy’s historic recorded works, and reminds readers of the complexity of his biography along the way. Grassed discusses his book in a December, 2024 interview.

A very brief holiday greeting...

“I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only…”

The Sunday Poem: “Remembering Chet Baker,” by Mark Donnelly

Listening recently to Chet Baker play and sing
“I’ve Never Been in Love Before”
on the local public radio jazz stream in Sacramento
sends me, thrills me, saddens me, deepens me

“Plane to Italy” – a poem (for Bill Evans) by Linda Werbner

A hazy clip from Finnish TV,
the year he died
Shot in a dimly-lit studio

Evans has just finished a concert and the interviewer,
reverently holds an oversized microphone

“Strawberry-rhubarb Pie” – a poem by Robert Miner

Looking a little sad and alone in an upper bin of the produce section – a handful of red celery-like stalks of rhubarb. They are still crisp – not yet wilted by the soft terror of avoidance too often rhubarb’s after life.

“The Jazz Dive” – the art of Allen Mezquida

The Jazz Dive is the website of the musician and artist Allen Mezquida, whose work is inspired by the counterculture music from the 1950s and 60s, and creates art “that resonates with both eyes and ears.” It is unique and creative and worth a look…

From the Interview Archive: Dan Morgenstern and Christian Sands discuss the legacy of Erroll Garner

In this 2020 interview, the late jazz scholar Dan Morgenstern and pianist Christian Sands engage in a lively discussion that reminds readers of the brilliance of Erroll Garner

The Sunday Poem: “Mingus au Paradis” by Manuel J. Grimaldi

Mingus howling, his bass rumbling in their faces,
Shouting yeah! Yeah, oh yeah! The insistent barking growl.
Their chains beat loose by the savage blues that chases.

Post-election thoughts – in four poems

Four poets react to the results of the 2024 election…

“Quartets – Four and No More” – a playlist by Bob Hecht

A 25-song playlist that focuses on quartets, featuring legends like Miles, the Modern Jazz Quartet (pictured), Monk, Brubeck, and Sonny, but also those led by the likes of Freddie Redd, David Murray, Frank Strozier, and Pepper Adams.

“To My Jazzed Grandmother (after John Coltrane) ” – a poem by Anita Lerek

The evening burns,
riffs clinking glasses
dance to what is
not there.

My finger travels along the old
family photograph, 33 stern faces.
Forest cats in clan den, spotted,
camouflaged. Before I was born.
Who are they? No one knows.

“If You Were Julie London” – a poem by Jerrice J. Baptiste

Maybe, whisper of your voice
could bring home
your far away love
before icicles begin to form.
It could be so.

Excerpts from David Rife’s Jazz Fiction: Take Two – Vol. 8: “Jazz’s International Influence”

A substantial number of novels and stories with jazz music as a component of the story have been published over the years, and the scholar David J. Rife has written short essay/reviews of them. In this eighth edition of excerpts from his book, Rife writes about jazz novels and short stories that feature stories about jazz music’s international influence.

The Sunday Poem: “Bebop Salvation” by Tobi Alfier

The vast and beautiful quiet of the weekend,
a weak dawn bleeds over the skyline’s edge.

She gropes her pockets to find a single cigarette
as she waits for that moment

Short Fiction Contest-winning story #67 — “Bluesette,” by Salvatore Difalco

The author’s award-winning story is a semi-satirical mood piece about a heartbroken man in Europe listening to a recording by the harmonica player Toots Thielemans while under the influence of a mind-altering substance.

Jazz History Quiz #177

This saxophonist’s first important jobs were during the 1940’s with Lionel Hampton (pictured), Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong’s big band, and Billy Eckstine’s Orchestra. Additionally, he was a Savoy Records recording artist as a leader before being an important part of the scene on Los Angeles’ Central Avenue. Who was he?

Nominations for the Pushcart Prize XLIX

Announcing the six writers nominated for the Pushcart Prize v. XLIX, whose work was published in Jerry Jazz Musician during 2024.

“Second-Hand Squeeze Box” – a short story by Debbie Burke

The story – a short-listed entry in our recently concluded 66th Short Fiction Contest – explores the intersection of nourishing oneself with music, and finding a soul mate

“Blow away Divisiveness with Cool Sounds” – by Kenneth M. Kapp

The writer suggests taking to music during these divisive times – specifically the composer Guillermo Lago’s piece “Sarajevo”

Notes on Bob Hecht’s book, Stolen Moments: A Photographer’s Personal Journey

Some thoughts on a new book of photography by frequent Jerry Jazz Musician contributing writer Bob Hecht…

Trading Fours, with Douglas Cole, No. 22: “Energy Man, or, God is in the House”

In this edition of an occasional series of the writer’s poetic interpretations of jazz recordings and film, Douglas Cole describes the genius of Art Tatum.  His reading is accompanied by the guitarist Chris Broberg.

“The Dancer’s Walk” – a short story by Franklyn Ajaye

The world-renowned saxophonist Deja Blue grew up a sad, melancholy person who could only express his feelings through his music. When he meets a beautiful woman who sweeps him off his feet, will his reluctance to share his feelings and emotion cost him the love of his life?

True Jazz Stories: “Hippie In a Jazz Club” – by Scott Oglesby

The author relates a story that took place in San Francisco’s jazz club the Keystone Korner in 1980 that led to his eventual friendship with the jazz greats Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy…

The Photographs of Giovanni Piesco: Johnny Griffin and Von Freeman

Beginning in 1990, the noted photographer Giovanni Piesco began taking backstage photographs of many of the great musicians who played in Amsterdam’s Bimhuis, that city’s main jazz venue which is considered one of the finest in the world. Jerry Jazz Musician will occasionally publish portraits of jazz musicians that Giovanni has taken over the years. This edition is of saxophonists Johnny Griffin and Von Freeman, who appeared together at the at Bimhuis on June 25/26, 1999.

“Rudy Van Gelder: Jazz Music’s Recording Angel” – an essay by Joel Lewis

For over 60 years, the legendary recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder devoted himself to the language of sound. And although he recorded everything from glee clubs to classical music, he was best known for recording jazz – specifically the musicians associated with Blue Note and Prestige records. Joel Lewis writes about his impact on the sound of jazz, and what has become of his Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio.

“Gone Guy: Jazz’s Unsung Dodo Marmarosa,” by Michael Zimecki

An essay remembering the late jazz musician Michael “Dodo” Marmarosa, awarded Esquire Magazine’s “New Star Award” in 1947, and who critics predicted would dominate the jazz scene for the next 30 years.

Community Bookshelf #3

“Community Bookshelf” is a twice-yearly space where writers who have been published on Jerry Jazz Musician can share news about their recently authored books and/or recordings. This edition includes information about books published within the last six months or so (March – September, 2024)

On turning 70, and contemplating the future of Jerry Jazz Musician

Thoughts on embracing a new stage in life, and where I hope to go next with Jerry Jazz Musician