Lee Mergner
Associate Producer, Editorial ContentFor 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.
-
The drummer/composer/bandleader talks about his upcoming concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrating the life and legacy of the renowned activist Bayard Rustin. -
The trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg talks with Lee Mergner about her new album ‘What It Means’ and her evolution as a bandleader and composer. -
With her latest album Infinite Connections, the Korean-born arranger and big band leader Jihye Lee establishes a personal style combining jazz and traditional Korean music. -
On this edition of The Art of the Story, Ella Fitzgerald's latest biography from Judith Tick is a revealing one -
Saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Peplowski perseveres through a life-threatening illness to produce two remarkable albums. -
Series of free concerts in Bryant Park, presented by Bank of America, includes performances by several jazz artists such as Vijay Iyer, Charenee Wade, Michael Olatuja, Eddie Palmieri and Arturo O'Farrill. -
NJPAC’s 2024/2025 jazz season to include performances by Herbie Hancock, Meshell Ndegeocello, Tyshawn Sorey, Madeleine Peyroux and others. -
David Sanborn, one of the most recorded saxophonists in contemporary music and the host of the 'As We Speak' podcast, died on Sunday, May 12, 2024. He was 78 years old. -
On this episode of AOS, WBGO's Lee Mergner chats with pianist and composer Andy Milne about his ancestry and latest album Time Will Tell -
WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with singer and songwriter Gregory Porter about the legacy of Nat King Cole.
