Dan Morgenstern (Jazz Advocate, Historian, Writer)

Dan Morgenstern (Jazz Advocate, Historian, Writer) photo by Ed Berger

NEA Jazz master Dan Morgenstern fled Nazi-occupied Austria as a child, found jazz in Denmark and Sweden as a teenager, and got his start as a jazz writer and producer at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Since that time he has become a trusted jazz advocate, a longtime editor of Downbeat Magazine in the 60s and 70s, a Grammy winner (6 times!) for his liner notes, author (his latest book is Living with Jazz), and in 1976 was asked to become the Director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. He has also guided the WBGO radio program Jazz from the Archives, Sundays at 11p.m. nearly since the station began.

Being a “jazz advocate,” Morgenstern demurred when asked about any new favorites. He was afraid of leaving someone out. However, he was willing to give us one, as an example of the kind of new artist that is making the music swing in the new century. “Wycliffe Gordon,” smiled Morgenstern. “He is such an enormously talented person. What he can do with the trombone is incredible!”

More about Dan Morgenstern: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/journalists/morgenstern.htm

NEA Jazz Masters 2007

This year's class of Jazz Masters covers the global spectrum of the jazz community. The IAJE Conference invites the NEA Jazz Masters to attend the conference and connect with the educators and students they have so greatly influenced. Here's a brief look as this year's Jazz Masters:

2007 Fellowships Recipients

• Toshiko Akiyoshi - Bandleader
• Curtis Fuller - Solo Instrumentalist (Trombone)
• Ramsey Lewis - Pianist
• Dan Morgenstern - A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy
• Jimmy Scott - Vocalist
• Frank Wess - Solo Instrumentalist (Flute)
• Phil Woods - Composer-Arranger

Photo credits: Ray Barretto - photo by Jean-Jacques Pussiau; Tony Bennett - photo courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Bob Brookmeyer- photo by Wolfgang Gonaus; Chick Corea - photo by Pino Ninfa; Buddy DeFranco - photo by Denny Lester; Freddie Hubbard - photo by Jimmy Katz; John Levy - photo by Leroy Hamilton.