All That's Jazz

Jazz Forum Arts in Westchester County, New York is a premier, highly successful nonprofit jazz organization with a rich history. Now, after 40 years of artistic excellence, a new era will be ushered in when Founder and Executive Director Mark Morganelli and Chief Operating Officer Ellen Prior retire on July 1st of this year.  This dynamic duo leaves behind an amazing legacy that includes hosting 300-plus music performances annually at its Jazz Forum Club in Tarrytown, New York, multiple free outdoor concert series, and award-winning jazz educational programs.  

 

 Mark Morganelli, a jazz trumpeter and producer, has been a major presence in the New York City and regional jazz scene since 1979, when he opened his first Jazz Forum loft club in Greenwich Village. Ellen Prior, Mark’s wife, has been a presence at JFA events since its earliest days, and formally joined the leadership team in 2015. 

With their retirement in the offing, the mantle of leadership is being passed on to Darrian Douglas and Clara Winder.  

Douglas, an accomplished jazz drummer for the past 20 years, is an educator, and arts leader, who has served as Director of Programs for Jazz Forum Arts since July 2025.  Previously, he served as Executive Director and Co-Founder of Second Line Arts Collective in New Orleans. Winder, currently Marketing Director and a core member of the JFA team for nearly a decade, will become Chief Operating Officer in July 2026, overseeing the Jazz Forum club operations, marketing, audience development, and internal systems that support the organization’s continued growth. 

My conversation with the affable Mark Morganelli and the engaging Ellen Prior unfolds the fascinating story behind the Jazz Forum Arts.

“Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” ― Miles Kington

The topic of this episode is “Talk To Your Tomatoes.” No, my guest is not a person who specializes in the art of cultivating plants, fruits and vegetables. Instead, “Talk to Your Tomatoes”is actually the title of the latest album from acclaimed jazz vocalist and songwriter, Stevie Holland, that features fresh interpretations of swinging standards, as well as sophisticated original songs written by Stevie and her longtime collaborator and arranger, award-winning composer Gary William Friedman. 

So why the title of “Talk to Your Tomatoes”? Well, Stevie is a self-proclaimed Viking who is the youngest of seven children and grew up in a music-filled, Norwegian-Italian household in Westchester County, New York. From that background, a great story grew which yielded the whimsical name. And you’ll learn how when you listen to our fruitful conversation.

World-renowned guitarist, vocalist and Grammy Award winner, John Pizzarelli - the son of guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli - has a fond and deep connection to one of the most revered vocalists of all-time, Mr. Tony Bennett.  John’s father was a frequent sideman for the legendary singer, and even John had his own opportunity to accompany Mr. Bennett for a radio broadcast featuring pianist Ralph Sharon and bassist Jay Leonhart.  It should then come as no surprise that during Bennett’s centennial celebration year, John  has released a heartfelt tribute album to the late singer called, “Dear Mr. Bennett.” 

As preparation for this new release, John assembled a collection of some of Tony Bennett’s most memorable and beloved songs, and will subsequently produce even more tunes for a 5-song EP to be released in conjunction with Bennett’s 100th birthday in August.  All of this delightful music is delivered by John, along with bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson.  

In this episode, John shares with me his memories and stories about one of the greatest singers of the last century,  and how he developed this remarkable album “Dear Mr. Bennett.”  Making the conversation even more fun, John breaks out his acoustic guitar to help unfold the stories behind the music.

Vinyl jazz album covers are highly collectible, especially if they are from the iconic label of Prestige Records. These classic and cherished covers, especially from 1949 to 1960 are often even framed and displayed as stunning wall art. It was Prestige that ushered in a golden age of jazz through the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Billy Taylor and dozens of jazz legends. Their recordings were encased in extraordinary album jackets as part of a whole graphic universe of illustrations and photos. 

Prestige was founded by Bob Weinstock who gave designers and photographers a carte blanche freedom to create art that reflected the unbridled spirit of the music. Those designers and photographers included Don Schlitten, David Young, Don Martin, Bob Parent, Reid Miles, Tom Hannan, Esmond Evan’s and others. The amazing story behind the groundbreaking music and art of Prestige has now been chronicled in a new tabletop book published by RIT Press called “Wail: The Visual Language of Prestige Records.” 

This remarkable book is authored by Mark Havens and Chris Entwistle. Havens is an artist, photographer and educator whose work has been exhibited internationally and is held in both public and private collections. Entwistle is an artist and illustrator who has used his passion for both jazz and postwar graphic design in his illustration work. 

In my conversation with Mark and Chris, we explore the development of the book which took more than a decade of research to uncover hundreds of rare and meticulously photographed covers and never-before-seen sketches and outtakes from album shoots.

Releasing EPs for musicians and artists often serve as a primary release strategy for both emerging and established artists. Usually featuring three to six tracks, EPs allow musicians to maintain consistent content, experiment with new sounds, and keep fans engaged. 

Jazz singer, songwriter and arranger Alyssa Allgood feels that EPs allow her to release more content between costly major projects and stay relevant through her own social media efforts.  

Alyssa has recently released a six track EP titled “Leap” that she self-composed and arranged, which captures the spirit of taking risks in life and love. She says it’s both a reflection of the struggle, and a celebration of the triumph, to make a leap.  

This episode, take the plunge with me as I engage in a conversation with this  fascinating and accomplished artist.