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The history of the magazine dates back to Radio Free Jazz, a publication founded in 1970 by Ira Sabin when he was operating a record store in Washington, DC. It was originally a newsletter designed to update shoppers on the latest jazz releases and provide jazz radio programmers with a means of communicating with the industry. However, Radio Free Jazz grew substantially over the next decade, attracting readers and writers from around the world.

In 1980, the magazine's broader focus and appeal prompted a name change, so Radio Free became JazzTimes. In 1990, the magazine also underwent a change, receiving a bold new look that incorporated exclusive cover photography and state of the art graphic design. Since then JazzTimes has continued to evolve into what is widely regarded as the world's leading jazz publication.

JazzTimes has become what is arguably the number one jazz magazine in the world.
-All Music Guide to Jazz

Here's what you'll find in the pages of JazzTimes today:

Dizzy Gillespie at Sabin's Records circa 1970
photo © Ira Sabin

MORE PRAISE FOR JAZZTIMES
JazzTimes is really about jazz, jazz musicians and our times. I love it!
-Dr. Billy Taylor
JazzTimes presents the musician's view better than any other magazine.
-John Scofield
JazzTimes is a well-written and informative magazine about an important art form -- and it swings!
-Jim Hall
JazzTimes gives you great music by great musicians. Jazz is the creative form from America and JazzTimes lets you know it!
-Louie Bellson
JazzTimes embraces the entire picture of the music -- performers, events, facts, fans, education -- You name it!
-Frank Foster
JazzTimes is the authentic all-jazz bible for the working musician and fan.
-Ed Shaughnessy

Extensive News Coverage. Who's recording what and with whom? What are the latest releases and reissues? Who's booked to perform at your favorite jazz festival? What's the latest word in books, films, TV, cyberspace? You'll find the answers to these and many other questions in every issue of JazzTimes.

Award Winning Jazz Journalism. The list of contributors reads like a who's who of jazz journalism. Nat Hentoff, Gary Giddins, Nate Chinen, Doug Ramsey, Stuart Nicholson, Bill Milkowski, Josef Woodard, David Adler and other well known writers regularly appear in JazzTimes, providing readers with the kind of insightful reviews and coverage unavailable anywhere else. Not surprisingly, several JazzTimes contributors have received ASCAP/Deems Taylor awards for jazz journalism.

Hundreds of CD, Book and Video Reviews. How do you keep up with the hundreds of CDs released every month? It's not easy. Each month JazzTimes sifts through all the CD releases--plus book and video releases--in order to provide readers with informative, money saving reviews of what's worth purchasing--and what isn't.

World Class Photography and Award-Winning Graphics. The unrivaled roster of photographers who contribute to JazzTimes speaks for itself: Herman Leonard, William Claxton, Jacques Lowe and Jimmy Katz top the distinguished list. The combination of their images and award-winning graphic treatments has given JazzTimes a truly distinctive visual signature. In recognition of exceptional graphic design, the magazine has been honored with several prestigious Gold and Silver Ozzie Awards.

Informative Features and Columns. In each issue of JazzTimes you'll find a series of features and columns that shed light on a variety of artists and subjects. In Before and After, well-known jazz musicians get their ears tested to see if they can recognize the music of their peers and predecessors. In Sound Advice, noted audio expert Mike Quinn gives readers the lowdown on audio and video components. The Spheres, Bluetones, Grooves and Currents columns report monthly on world beat, blues and contemporary jazz recordings.

Special Theme Issues. Throughout the year JazzTimes focuses on a specific instrument--saxophone or guitar, for example--and devotes extensive editorial coverage to the subject.

Special Directories. No other jazz publication offers readers as many directories as JazzTimes. Our comprehensive directories for jazz clubs, education programs, record labels and music festivals are used by readers as reference guides year-round.

Readers Poll and Critics Picks. Every year JazzTimes readers and JazzTimes critics cast their ballots in a pair of widely read and wildly entertaining jazz polls.

Sound$weeps. JazzTimes doesn't just report on jazz festivals around the world, we frequently send winners of our Sound$weeps giveaways to those same festivals. Past Sound$weeps prizes have included all-expense-paid vacations to everywhere from Monterey, California to Umbria, Italy.

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