Lee Mergner
Editorial Content ProducerFor over 27 years, Lee Mergner served as an editor and publisher of JazzTimes until his resignation in January 2018. Thereafter, Mergner continued to regularly contribute features, profiles and interviews to the publication as a contributing editor for the next 4+ years. JazzTimes, which has won numerous ASCAP-Deems Taylor awards for music journalism, was founded in 1970 and was described by the All Music Guide, as “arguably the finest jazz magazine in the world.”
From 2018 to 2021, Mergner also was a co-organizer of the Jazz Congress in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center, which brought together hundreds of industry professionals to discuss trends, issues and ideas in the international jazz community. Before that, he founded and produced the Jazz Connect Conference from 2012 through 2017, co-produced the Jazz Industry Track at the IAJE conference from 2001 through 2008 and produced the JazzTimes Convention during the ‘90s.
Mergner currently serves as a consultant for Jazz Cruises, which produces numerous jazz and music cruises, including Blue Note at Sea and The Jazz Cruise. And he advises or volunteers with various jazz organizations and events such as Jazz House Kids, Montclair Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz Philadelphia, Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired, Exit Zero Jazz Festival and several others. He also contributes interviews and stories to TIDAL magazine.
Mergner appeared regularly as a guest and host on over 100 shows on the Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the BET on Jazz cable channels. He appeared regularly on the radio show "Favorite Things" on WDCU FM in Washington, DC as well as other regional and national radio shows, including Sirius/XM, WCPN, WBGO, Public Radio East, CBC and many more. He has also appeared frequently as a moderator or panelist at several music industry conferences and seminars, including those sponsored by MENC, NAIRD/AFIM, NJSO, IAJE, WAMA, AMA and the New Music Seminar. He created and produced the podcasts JazzTimes Spins & Riffs and Jazz Cruise Conversations.
Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Mergner obtained his BA in Psychology and Math from Dickinson College and an MBA in Marketing from Temple University. He currently resides in Silver Spring, MD and Emerald Isle, NC.
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WBGO’s Lezlie Harrison speaks with pianist Fred Hersch and vocalist esperanza spalding about their collaboration on the album Alive at the Village Vanguard. -
WBGO’s Lee Mergner speaks with Mark Wexler, head of Candid Records, about the label’s long history and future plans
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Singer and guitarist Raul Midón talks with WBGO’s Sheila Anderson about Eclectic Adventurist, his new album of duets with 12 different guitarists
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WBGO’s Bobby Sanabria talks with fellow Puerto Rico native, the flutist Nestor Torres, and arranger Corey Allen about collaborating on the Dominican Suite album that touches on that country’s tragic and heroic past.
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New recording by Benny Green, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton of Oscar Peterson’s Civil Rights anthem released as a single by Mack Avenue
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Talent lineup announced for the 46th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival held June 24-25, 2023. Headliners include Pat Metheny, Snarky Puppy, Hiromi and Samara Joy
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Joe McCarthy and Vince Norman of the New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band talk with WBGO’s Bobby Sanabria about The Pan-American Nutcracker Suite
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Trumpeter Chris Botti talks about his month-long residency in December at the Blue Note NYC, as well as about a new cruise he’s hosting in 2024, Botti at Sea.
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WBGO’s Lee Mergner recommends an assortment of products that any jazz fan would be thrilled to find gift-wrapped under the tree or by a set of candles
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WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with author Aidan Levy about Saxophone Colossus, his biography of jazz tenor titan Sonny Rollins
