Free Webinar: Being a Biographer, presented by the Jazz Journalists Association Sept 19

I will moderate the free web-panel "Being a Biographer," presented by the Jazz Journalists Association as the third in a series "Introducing Jazz Journalism Now," online at 8 pm EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Panelists are: Peter Pullman ((Wail, The Life of Bud Powell), Robin D.G. Kelley (Thelonious Monk: The LIfe and Times of an American Original) and Michelle Mercer (Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter, and Will You Take Me As I Am: Joni Mitchell's Blue Period). Though free, attendees must register for access. 

My fall 2012 semester at New York University begins with a new class -- "Writing About the Arts" -- on Thursday, Sept 6, and a second class, "Roots of American Music" on Monday, Sept. 10. These are both 2-credit electives in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, with 15 sessions lasting into December.

Chicago Jazz Festival, Grant Park and beyond, Aug. 29 - Sept 2

The Chicago Jazz Festival starts with a city-wide club tour and climaxes with four days/nights of programming Aug. 30 -Sept 2 headlined by drummer Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth Band,  Dianne Reeves and Allen Toussaint -- I'll be all over, please stop me and say hello. And I'll be speaking on Alain Drouot's radio show on WNUR-FM August 29 at 7 a.m. -- we've done this annually for at least 10 years.

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Marcus Garvey Park, NYC 8/26/12

I am hosting a Sidetour group and presenting the JJA's "Drummer of the Year" Award to Roy Haynes, headliner of the 20th anniversary Charlie Parker Jazz Festival at Marcus Garvey Park in NYC on Saturday, August 26 -- a free concert, 3 pm - 7 pm.

History of Creative Music Studio- Columbia U NYC Sat Apr 16

I moderate a panel on the history of the Creative Music Studio (Woodstock), with vocalist Ingrid Sertso, tango expert Ilene Marder and saxophonist Don Davis -- who were all at CMS in its early years in the 1970s -- at a day-long, free Creative Music Studio Symposium at Columbia University, Saturday, April 16, 9:30-11 a.m., 301 Philosophy Hall on the University main campus (116th St. at Broadway) in New York City.