Dan Morgenstern
Encyclopedia
Dan Morgenstern is a jazz
critic and librarian.
Morgenstern moved to the United States in 1947, and attended Brandeis University
from 1953-1956. He wrote for jazz publication Jazz Journal from 1958–1961, and following this edited several jazz magazines: Metronome in 1961, Jazz from 1962–1963, and Down Beat
from 1964-1973. He is the author of the book Jazz People and has arranged jazz concerts and lectures over the course of his career. In 1976 he was named director of Rutgers-Newark
's Institute of Jazz Studies
, where he continued the work of Marshall Stearns
and made the Institute one of the world's largest collections of jazz documents, recordings, and memorabilia.
Morgenstern is widely known as a prolific writer of comprehensive, authoritative liner notes
, a sideline that has garnered him eight Grammy Awards for Best Album Notes
since 1973.
Morgenstern published two books: Jazz People (1976); and Living with Jazz (2004), a reader edited by Sheldon Meyer. Both were winners of ASCAP's Deems Taylor Award.
In 2007, Morgenstern received the A.B. Spellman Jazz Masters Award
for Jazz Advocacy from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
critic and librarian.
Morgenstern moved to the United States in 1947, and attended Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
from 1953-1956. He wrote for jazz publication Jazz Journal from 1958–1961, and following this edited several jazz magazines: Metronome in 1961, Jazz from 1962–1963, and Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
from 1964-1973. He is the author of the book Jazz People and has arranged jazz concerts and lectures over the course of his career. In 1976 he was named director of Rutgers-Newark
Rutgers-Newark
Rutgers University in Newark is one of three campuses of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the eighth oldest college in the United States and a member of the Association of American Universities...
's Institute of Jazz Studies
Institute of Jazz Studies
The Institute of Jazz Studies is the largest and most comprehensive library and archive of jazz and jazz-related materials in the world, located at the Newark campus of Rutgers University.-History:...
, where he continued the work of Marshall Stearns
Marshall Stearns
Marshall Winslow Stearns was an American jazz critic and musicologist. He was the founder of the Institute of Jazz Studies....
and made the Institute one of the world's largest collections of jazz documents, recordings, and memorabilia.
Morgenstern is widely known as a prolific writer of comprehensive, authoritative liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
, a sideline that has garnered him eight Grammy Awards for Best Album Notes
Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
The Grammy Award for Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976, a separate award was presented for Best Album Notes - Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent liner notes...
since 1973.
Morgenstern published two books: Jazz People (1976); and Living with Jazz (2004), a reader edited by Sheldon Meyer. Both were winners of ASCAP's Deems Taylor Award.
In 2007, Morgenstern received the A.B. Spellman Jazz Masters Award
NEA Jazz Masters
The National Endowment for the Arts , every year honors up to seven jazz musicians with Jazz Master Awards. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the highest honors that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians...
for Jazz Advocacy from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Grammy Awards for Best Album Notes
- Art TatumArt TatumArthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
, God Is in the House (1973) - Coleman HawkinsColeman HawkinsColeman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
, The Hawk Flies (1974) - Various (Savoy RecordsSavoy RecordsSavoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
collection), The Changing Face of Harlem (1976) - Erroll GarnerErroll GarnerErroll Louis Garner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad "Misty", has become a jazz standard...
, Erroll Garner: Master of the Keyboard (1981) - Clifford BrownClifford BrownClifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
, Brownie: The Complete Emarcy Recordings of Clifford Brown (1990) - Louis ArmstrongLouis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1994) - Fats WallerFats WallerFats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
, If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It! (2006) - Louis ArmstrongLouis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
,The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946) (2010)