The Journal of Jazz and Improvised Music has been going strong since 1958. Issue #270 is a solid issue with 5 pages of jazz notes and news-shorts, and several features including one on New York’s William Parker. This issue also provides roundups of the Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa jazzfests. The writing in Coda is clear and straight-forward, at times it almost too simple, but it’s definitely preferable to something like MusicWorks. Still, I wouldn’t mind a little more density and challenge. Jazz, with its ever converging and emerging talents and eccentricities probably deserves just a little bit more flare. Perhaps the editors could take a few more risks in understanding what jazz is, and who listens to it. This isn’t really a criticism, more of a suggestion. Serious jazz fans should definitely check out Coda.
magazine / #270, 40 pages / main creator: Bill Smith (editor) / $3.95, $25 for 6 / Box 1002, Station O, Toronto, ON, M4A 2N4