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Meet Jack Bowers
I currently live in:
Albuquerque, New MexicoI joined All About Jazz in:
1997Why did you decide to contribute to All About Jazz?
I had been writing about jazz, primarily big bands, for a number of years for various magazines, and AAJ presented an excellent opportunity to continue doing that after I retired from my "day job" as a newspaper editor in June '97.How do you contribute to All About Jazz?
At present, by reviewing CDs, big band and otherwise. When I started writing for AAJ I authored a couple of monthly columns, "Big Band Report" and "Big Band Caravan." The first was a "news and information" column, the second a number of CD reviews (usually half a dozen or more) assembled in one convenient place. I stopped writing the columns around five years ago.What is your musical background?
In a word, none, aside from being a music-lover from my pre-teen years and listening to jazz from the mid-1940s when Bird, Diz,
Bud Powell
piano1924 - 1966
Kenny Clarke
drums1914 - 1985
What was the first record you bought that you would still listen to today?
Probably the
Gerry Mulligan
saxophone, baritone1927 - 1996
Chet Baker
trumpet and vocals1929 - 1988
Aside from jazz, what styles of music do you enjoy?
A lot. I love classical music, especially Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Brahms, Smetana, Rachmaninov, Mendelssohn and many others. I also love pop music from the good old days when it was still music—Sinatra,
Sarah Vaughan
vocals1924 - 1990
What are you listening to right now?
Mostly CDs that are on the review stack. Whatever comes up. Even with the music world turned topsy turvy by the coronavirus pandemic (this is being written in August 2020), the CDs somehow keep coming, so I usually have something to occupy my afternoons.Which five recent releases would you recommend to readers who share your musical taste?
- The Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra: The Planets: Reimagined
- The
" data-original-title="" title="">John Fedchock NY Sextet: Into the ShadowsJohn Fedchock
trombone
b.1957 - The
" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Masters Ensemble with Gary Smulyan: Night Talk: The Alec Wilder SongbookMark Masters
arranger
b.1957 - The
" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Hamilton Trio: Catch Me If You CanJeff Hamilton
drums
b.1953 - The
" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Weeds Quartet: Day by DayCory Weeds
saxophone, alto
b.1973
What inspired you to write about jazz?
As I said, I've always been a fan, but it never occurred to me to write about jazz until someone asked me to. That someone was Bill Ashton, director of the UK's National Youth Jazz Orchestra, who asked me to write a review and submit it to Cadence magazine. Cadence liked what I wrote, asked me if I'd like to continue reviewing for them, and my "career" was launched.What do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies?
None that I can share in print. Well, Betty and I like to watch mystery series, especially from overseas. I used to bowl every week but stopped this year. I may return to the lanes one of these days when it is safe to gather in groups again. And I am writing, in my spare time, a series of columns that I'd rather not plug; let's say they're a humorous and offbeat look at what has been going on in Washington for the past three and one-half years. I hope to write the last one in early November.What role does jazz music play in your life?
A rather large one, as it always has. I listen whenever I can, but must admit that reviewing hasn't made me a better listener, only a different one. It's harder to listen for pleasure when one is considering what to write next, and my m.o. is to write while listening. So I don't often listen to jazz purely for pleasure, as I once did. Which doesn't make the music any less enjoyable. The approach to it is simply different.How does writing about jazz contribute to the music itself?
I'm not sure that it does. The music speaks for itself. All I try to do is let readers know to the best of my limited ability what I hear and whether others may find it interesting. I don't always hit that mark but try to stress that what is being read is one reviewer's less-than-perfect opinion.What do you like most about All About Jazz?
That almost every review I submit is posted as written, which is important to me, as I generally know well what I wish to say and choose my words and phrases carefully. I was treated the same at Cadence and other magazines; almost every review I submitted appeared exactly as written. That's a source of pride and satisfaction. And when that stops happening, I'll pretty much know it's time to vacate the keyboard and look for a rest home.What positives have come from your association with All About Jazz?
Mainly the positive of continuing to do something I love doing at the ripe old age of 85 (as of today). Also, the positive of making friends with so many musicians I admire, including a large number I've never met in person, and being treated as an "equal" by those whose talent far surpasses my own. When I receive a nice note from someone like, say,
James Morrison
multi-instrumentalistb.1962
Vinyl, CD or Streaming?
Definitely CD, ever since I discovered its existence back in 1982. All my vinyl was immediately consigned to the nearest waste basket. As for streaming and the like, I'm simply too old a dog to learn those new tricks. As I say to those who seek reviews, either I have a physical CD in hand or they can forget it. So far, so good.Which article from your archive is the most memorable and why?
I'm proud of a number of Big Band Reports, especially the obituaries of wonderful musicians like
Buddy Rich
drums1917 - 1987
Bob Brookmeyer
trombone1929 - 2011
Bill Potts
b.1928
Bob Florence
piano1932 - 2008
Jack Nimitz
saxophone, baritone1930 - 2009
Visit Jack at All About Jazz.
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