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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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.
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Five finalists for the 12th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition on Nov. 19 named by NJPAC.
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The WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series returns with three concerts at area venues, featuring Reggie Workman, Calvin Johnson, Elio Villafranca and Riza Printup.
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Eleven young pianists to compete in a prestigious international piano competition Oct. 14-15 in New York City.
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Lee Mergner on the album ‘Inside Out’ by the singer and percussionist Bernard Fowler, who reinvented songs by the Rolling Stones.
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The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) announces schedule and lineup for the 12th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival running November 3-19 at NJPAC and other sites in Newark, N.J.
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While We Are Still Here organization to unveil historic marker honoring Coleman Hawkins in Harlem on Saturday, September 9 at 1 pm.