Dan Morgenstern, a distinguished figure in the world of jazz journalism, education, and historical scholarship, passed away on Saturday in Manhattan at the age of 94. His son, Josh, confirmed that heart failure was the cause of his death, which occurred in a hospital.
Mr. Morgenstern was not just a writer; he was a bridge between the vibrant world of jazz musicians and the broader public. His unique ability to articulate the essence of jazz through accessible prose, enriched with extensive historical context, set him apart as a nonmusician who profoundly understood the genre he loved.
Known for his humble demeanor and unassuming nature, Mr. Morgenstern’s contributions to jazz scholarship were monumental. Over the years, he penned thousands of articles for various magazines, newspapers, and academic journals. He served as the last editor-in-chief of the esteemed Metronome magazine and took on the role of the first editor for Jazz magazine, which later became known as Jazz & Pop. His reviews of live performances for The New York Post and records for The Chicago Sun-Times showcased his insightful perspective on the evolving jazz landscape. Notably, during his tenure at DownBeat, he authored an impressive 148 record reviews, including a significant period from 1967 to 1973 as the magazine’s chief editor.
Mr. Morgenstern’s talent for writing liner-note essays earned him eight prestigious Grammy Awards. His dedication to jazz was recognized when he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2007. Additionally, he received three Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in music writing from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, with two of these honors awarded for his remarkable books: Jazz People (1976) and Living With Jazz (2004).
Throughout his career, Mr. Morgenstern played a vital role in the production of over a dozen jazz documentaries, serving as a writer, adviser, music consultant, and occasional onscreen authority. His most significant impact, however, came during his tenure from 1976 to 2011 as the director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University-Newark. Under his leadership, the institute grew into the largest repository of jazz documents, recordings, and memorabilia worldwide.
Mr. Morgenstern often expressed his aversion to the term “critic,” stating, “I don’t like the word ‘critic’ very much. I look at myself more as an advocate for the music than as a critic.” This sentiment was echoed in his book Living With Jazz, where he noted, “My most enthusiastic early readers were my musician friends, and one thing led to another. What has served me best, I hope, is that I learned about the music not from books but from the people who created it.”
