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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Brandee Younger reflects on the unique legacy of fellow harpist Dorothy Ashby, the subject of a six-LP box set released on New Land Records.
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WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with John Patitucci and Eric Marienthal about the Chick Corea Elektric Band, which is releasing a retrospective box set, as well as a live album of previously unreleased material.
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Singer-songwriter Sting set to appear on February 28, 2024 as the special guest with Christian McBride for the Ralph Pucci 8th Annual Jazz Set, a benefit event for Jazz House Kids.
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Norah Jones, Laufey, Samara Joy, Lake Street Dive and Terence Blanchard among the headliners at the 47th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival held June 29-30, 2024 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
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WBGO’s Lee Mergner talks with author Judith Tick about her new biography ‘Becoming Ella Fitzgerald’ which explores the life and legacy of the legendary vocalist.
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Now in its 20th year, NYC Winter Jazzfest announces lineup for concerts and events held in Manhattan and Brooklyn Jan. 10-18, 2024.
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WBGO’s Lee Mergner recommends ten of his favorite holiday tracks by jazz legends.
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Fifteen acts to perform concerts at three venues at Jazz at Lincoln Center during Jan. 12-13, 2024.
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More than 150 vinyl albums released for sale in independent record stores across the country on Black Friday.
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In the recently announced 2024 Grammy Award nominations, multiple jazz-related award nominees include Jon Batiste, Esperanza Spalding, Fred Hersch, Lakecia Benjamin and Gordon Goodwin.