Nat Hentoff

Art by Tim Foley

Nat Hentoff

Writer · born 10 June 1925 – died 7 January 2017

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Hentoff was the conscience of jazz journalism for many years. He worked on a Boston radio station and studied at Harvard in the 40s, and in the following decade he wrote for Down Beat and drew as close as he might to many of the major New York jazz figures of the day. His books Hear Me Talkin' To Ya (1955, with Nat Shapiro) and The Jazz Life (1961) were the first real efforts to explore the community of jazz musicians as an articulate group of working individuals, rather than stars or novelties or untouchable artists: Hentoff's straight demeanour put across the personalities of his subjects with uncommon candour. He co-edited one of the best of all jazz magazines, the short-lived Jazz Review (1958–61), but thereafter worked primarily as a journalist specializing in issues to do with civil liberties, a beat which he has patrolled into the new century in The Village Voice and elsewhere. Nevertheless, through occasional sleevenotes and columns, he maintains a jazz presence.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

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Liner notes by Nat Hentoff

1957

  • Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford - Vol. 2Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford - Vol. 2
  • Charles Mingus - The ClownCharles Mingus - The Clown
  • Modern Jazz Quartet - Modern Jazz QuartetModern Jazz Quartet - Modern Jazz Quartet
  • Milt Jackson - Plenty Plenty SoulMilt Jackson - Plenty Plenty Soul
  • Charles Mingus - East CoastingCharles Mingus - East Coasting
  • Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Hard DriveArt Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Hard Drive
  • Lee Morgan - Lee Morgan, Volume ThreeLee Morgan - Lee Morgan, Volume Three
  • Horace Silver - The Stylings of SilverHorace Silver - The Stylings of Silver
  • The Jazz Messengers – Hard BopThe Jazz Messengers – Hard Bop
  • J.J. Johnson - First PlaceJ.J. Johnson - First Place
  • Curtis Counce - You Get More Bounce with Curtis CounceCurtis Counce - You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce
  • Teddy Charles - Three for DukeTeddy Charles - Three for Duke
  • Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus TrioCharles Mingus - Charles Mingus Trio
  • Bob Brookmeyer Quintet - Traditionalism RevisitedBob Brookmeyer Quintet - Traditionalism Revisited
  • Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff SmithDizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Gillespie and Stuff Smith
  • Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond - Mulligan Desmond QuartetGerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond - Mulligan Desmond Quartet

1958

  • John Lewis - The John Lewis PianoJohn Lewis - The John Lewis Piano
  • Jimmy Giuffre 3 - Trav'lin' LightJimmy Giuffre 3 - Trav'lin' Light
  • Warne Marsh - Warne MarshWarne Marsh - Warne Marsh
  • Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin'Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin'
  • Red Mitchell - Presenting Red MitchellRed Mitchell - Presenting Red Mitchell
  • Leroy Vinnegar Sextet - Leroy Walks!Leroy Vinnegar Sextet - Leroy Walks!
  • Jimmy Cleveland – Cleveland StyleJimmy Cleveland – Cleveland Style
  • Bud Powell Trio – Blues in the ClosetBud Powell Trio – Blues in the Closet
  • Lee Konitz - Very CoolLee Konitz - Very Cool
  • Harry Edison - Gee, Baby Ain't I Good To YouHarry Edison - Gee, Baby Ain't I Good To You
  • Stan Getz - Stan Getz in StockholmStan Getz - Stan Getz in Stockholm
  • Ray Brown - This is Ray BrownRay Brown - This is Ray Brown

1959

  • Cecil Taylor Quartet - Looking Ahead!Cecil Taylor Quartet - Looking Ahead!
  • Ornette Coleman - Tomorrow is the QuestionOrnette Coleman - Tomorrow is the Question

1960

  • John Coltrane - Giant StepsJohn Coltrane - Giant Steps
  • Art Blakey - The Big BeatArt Blakey - The Big Beat
  • Miles Davis - Sketches of SpainMiles Davis - Sketches of Spain
  • Jackie McLean - Makin' the ChangesJackie McLean - Makin' the Changes
  • Booker Little - Booker LittleBooker Little - Booker Little
  • Wynton Kelly - Kelly at MidniteWynton Kelly - Kelly at Midnite

1961

  • Curtis Fuller - Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller - Volume Three
  • Lou Donaldson - Sunny Side UpLou Donaldson - Sunny Side Up
  • Horace Parlan - Us ThreeHorace Parlan - Us Three
  • Max Roach - We Insist! Freedom Now SuiteMax Roach - We Insist! Freedom Now Suite
  • Benny Bailey - Big BrassBenny Bailey - Big Brass
  • Howard McGhee - Maggie's Back in TownHoward McGhee - Maggie's Back in Town

1962

  • Jimmy Woods - Awakening!!Jimmy Woods - Awakening!!
  • Gil Evans - Into the HotGil Evans - Into the Hot
  • John Coltrane - Live at the Village VanguardJohn Coltrane - Live at the Village Vanguard
  • McCoy Tyner Trio - InceptionMcCoy Tyner Trio - Inception
  • Eric Dolphy - Far CryEric Dolphy - Far Cry
  • Milt Jackson Quartet – StatementsMilt Jackson Quartet – Statements

1964

  • Charles Mingus - Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus MingusCharles Mingus - Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus

1966

  • Gary McFarland - Tijuana JazzGary McFarland - Tijuana Jazz

1967

  • Zoot Sims - Waiting GameZoot Sims - Waiting Game

1969

  • Barney Kessel - Feeling FreeBarney Kessel - Feeling Free