Interview with Howard Mandel of the Jazz Journalists Association

A lot goes into the creation of our “jazz world.”

First come the musicians. Equally necessary is the audience. Also included is everyone who contributes to the creation and education of the audience – and that’s where our jazz journalists come in.

Author, producer and veteran jazz writer with over 40 years in the trenches, Howard Mandel is the president of the Jazz Journalists Association.

In this wide ranging conversation, we talk about Howard’s work including his books “Future Jazz” and “Miles, Ornette, Cecil: Jazz Beyond Jazz” and the pleasures and challenges of being a jazz writer in the digital era.

Jazz heroes

Among the many intriguing initiatives the Jazz Journalists Association is involved in their annual Jazz Heroes awards is one the most impressive.

Every year, community members nominate “advocates, altruists, activists, aiders and abettors of jazz” who work to help jazz flourish in their local communities.

If you’re a writer or documenter of jazz with video, audio, photography – on the web or via broadcasting –  or if you just appreciate these arts and want to support them and follow some truly interesting work check out the Jazz Journalists Association.

– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube

Music credit: The Jazz on the Tube podcast theme song is “Mambo Inferno” performed by The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra conducted by Bobby Sanabria from the CD ¡Que Viva Harlem!