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.
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The 92nd Street Y (92NY) has announced the schedule of performances for its Jazz in July concert series, now in its 39th year. -
The lineup for the 70th edition of the Newport Jazz Festival on Aug. 2-4, 2024 to include headliners from both the jazz and jazz-adjacent genres. -
On this episode of AOS, author Paul Alexander chats with WBGO's Lee Merger about his new biography of Billie Holiday -
On this episode of AOS, WBGO's Lee Mergner chats with author James Kaplan about his new book 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and the Lost Empire of Cool -
WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with author James Kaplan about his new book '3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and the Lost Empire of Cool.' -
Gala concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Apr. 17 to feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis along with special guest artists including Rubén Blades, Kristin Chenoweth, Norm Lewis, Kurt Elling, Ekep Nkwelle, Robbie Lee and Bernadette Peters. -
Longtime WBGO radio host Rob Crocker died on March 7, at the age of 78. -
WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with author Paul Alexander about his new book 'Bitter Crop: The Heartache and Triumph of Billie Holiday’s Last Year.' -
Saxophonist Ada Rovatti talks with WBGO’s Lee Mergner about her new album The Hidden World of Piloo, inspired by her late father. -
WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with Cynthia Sayer, recent winner of the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize, about her life with the banjo and her mission to rid the instrument of its historical stereotypes and limitations.
