International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers

06/03/2026

Today, ISJAC is celebrating the legendary Canadian composer and clarinetist Phil Nimmons, born June 3rd, 1923.

Pianist, composer, and former ISJAC Blog curator Paul Read penned a beautiful tribute to Phil in June, 2018 highlighting his incredible contributions to jazz, music education, and Canadian culture at large. Also included is a video interview from December, 2006.

“Phil takes an idea and runs with it….and then runs with it….and I mean, runs with it! This quality exists time and again in his music, and also with the way he interacts with those around him. He is the master of the ‘running gag’, the protraction of any and all ideas. He is constantly improvising and composing, while playing and writing, or teaching, or just living day to day…

In any list of Canadian musicians (jazz or otherwise), Phil Nimmons is always mentioned and frequently listed as one of the most significant.”

Paul Read shines a spotlight on Canada’s pioneering Composer, Arranger, Clarinet Player, Band Leader, and Educator Phil Nimmons in this multi-media post (including a 40+ min interview, audio examples…

05/07/2026

We are thrilled to announce the selectees for our upcoming ISJAC Launchpad Reading Session on Sunday, May 17th at 3:30pm Eastern!

Andrew Watkins-Alcocer - "Dual Perspectives"
Jonny Ford - "Grassholes"
Tobias Hoffmann - "In June"
Juan David Maya Castro - "Lo Siento"
John Mills (Double Vision) - "Eyes To The Sky"
Tsz Nok Jerry Ko (Jerry Ko Music) - "Drizzling Onto The Broken Leaf"

The reading session will take place on 5/17/26 from 3:30pm - 6:30pm ET, and will be livestreamed for free courtesy of 480 Arts. These original works will be read by the acclaimed Twin Cities Jazz Composers Workshop Orchestra (TCJCW), directed by JC Sanford. We invite the entire ISJAC community to come watch and support.

This reading session received the highest number of submissions in Launchpad's history and the level of writing was incredibly high. It is fantastic to see such significant interest and support from the ISJAC community for this valued program.

ISJAC Launchpad is funded in part through a generous grant from the ASCAP Foundation and we extend our deepest gratitude for their collaboration in creating opportunities for new music to be brought to life.

05/04/2026

An exciting, upcoming Jazz Composers Present masterclass on Saturday with ISJAC Board Member Miho Hazama (挾間 美帆) - free to all ISJAC members - featuring music from her latest album "Live Life This Day."

Visit https://isjac.org/membersonly to register and watch!

JazzComposersPresent.com is excited for our Composer Spotlight on Saturday, May 9th at 1:00pm Eastern featuring Grammy-nominated composer and conductor Miho Hazama (挾間 美帆), hosted by Chelsea McBride.

Miho will be presenting “‘Live Life This Day’: Composing Music Inspired By Another Writer” and taking questions live.

Have a question for Miho Hazama (Miho Hazama (Danish Radio Big Band, Metropole Orchestra, m_unit)), but can’t join us live? Not to worry! Members can submit questions in advance through our Livestreams page. https://www.JazzComposersPresent.com/livestreams

This event is free to attend for fully-paid members of the International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers. Visit https://isjac.org/jazzcomposerspresent for more information.

Members can access Masterclasses, Listening Sessions, Roundtables, Group Lessons, Artist Q&As and our Past Event Archives. We are pleased to offer a variety of membership options to suit any budget! www.JazzComposersPresent.com/membership

Come and join our growing community!

05/01/2026

ISJAC is celebrating National Jazz Appreciation Month by highlighting blogs from our past!

Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Ryan Keberle joined the Blog in July, 2019 to discuss identifying specific traits in music that has inspired him, how to be analytical without ruining the magic, and his love of Musica Popular Brasileira (MPB).

“Why does Jimmy Cobb’s ride pattern FEEL so good and how does it differ from the ordinary ride pattern of aspiring jazz students? Why does Duke Ellington’s music elicit so much excitement and maintain the focus of the listener? Why does the voice of Milton Nascimento almost bring me to tears? I don’t pretend to have all the answers but I have found this process of musical interrogation to be incredibly inspiring and fruitful in my creative process, and l hope to inspire others to perhaps dig a little deeper and listen more carefully and thoughtfully to the music they love.”

Ryan Keberle talks about listening to music, its relationship to writing, and some music he loves.

04/23/2026

This April, ISJAC is celebrating National Jazz Appreciation Month by highlighting blogs from our past!

Pianist, composer, & bandleader Ellen Rowe (Ellen Rowe Music) joined the Blog in December, 2018 to discuss important technical considerations for developing ensembles, balancing sophistication and accessibility, and how young musicians can grow through performing compelling music.

“I’m writing this in the hopes of encouraging more professional composers, especially younger ones, to think about taking on the challenge of writing unique and compelling music for developing players that may provide them inspiration to continue on in this music. I have been fortunate to get opportunities to write for younger groups and can attest to the fact that it is extremely difficult to do well. I can write a bad arrangement of a video game tune with the best of them but to expose students to jazz standards or interesting original compositions that they will enjoy playing and that are written in an appropriate manner for them is a whole ‘nother ball game.”

Ellen Rowe discusses why writing for young jazz ensembles is an interesting challenge writers should explore, how she makes the most of it, her inspirations, and her recommendations for you.

04/16/2026

This April, ISJAC is celebrating National Jazz Appreciation Month by highlighting blogs from our past!

Saxophonist, composer/arranger, and bandleader Bob Mintzer joined the Blog in July, 2017 to discuss his early development as a writer, taking inspiration from both listening and improvising, and how essential it is to have a set of parameters already in place before beginning a piece.

“My first large ensemble writing experience happened on the Buddy Rich band. I had the incredible opportunity to write my first 6 big band pieces for this great band, to record them and play them every night. On Buddy’s band I had the good and bad aspects in each pieces staring me in the face on a nightly basis, and was able to adjust my approach with each subsequent venture. What a crazy great situation! I hadn’t had the time to study arranging up to that point, being that arranging for big band was not yet on my radar. Little did I know which way the road would turn."

Bob Mintzer reflects on his process as a composer through his background, techniques for generating ideas, and executing those ideas.

03/26/2026

Celebrating Women's History Month!

This March, ISJAC is proud to take part in Women's History Month by highlighting Blog posts written by women composers and artists.

In May 2020, composer, arranger, and conductor Asuka Kakitani shared a personal perspective on the compositional process, drawing inspiration from nature, and creating music that is completely honest.

“Telling stories is an important part of composing for me. Sometimes composing is my tool to tell a story. I almost always have a story in my head before I start writing. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic one; it could be an ordinary day of summer in the garden. Nature is usually a great inspiration for me. I think composing is like taking my camera and going outside to look under a leaf or inside flowers with a macro lens. There are lives and dramas that we cannot see with our naked eye. There are so many details, which are delicate, colorful, and vibrant. That is how I want my music to be, too.”

Asuka Kakitani reflects on her experience as a composer, the value of melody, and parenthood’s influence on composition.

03/19/2026

Announcing the next ISJAC Launchpad Reading Session!

Presented in partnership with the Twin Cities Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra (TCJCW) and 480 Arts, ISJAC Launchpad is designed to support and showcase both emerging and established jazz composers by highlighting new works for big band. Composers are invited to submit original works to be read by the acclaimed TCJCW directed by JC Sanford.

The reading session will take place on Sunday, May 17th, 2026 from 3:30pm - 6:30pm ET, and all selected composers must be able to attend virtually or in-person. The event will be livestreamed for free courtesy of 480 Arts, so we invite the entire ISJAC community to come watch and support.

Applications are now open, and must be received by April 16th for consideration. Visit isjac.org/launchpad for complete details.

ISJAC Launchpad is funded in part through a generous grant from the ASCAP Foundation and we extend our deepest gratitude for their collaboration in creating opportunities for new music to be brought to life.

03/17/2026

Celebrating Women's History Month!

This March, ISJAC is proud to take part in Women's History Month by highlighting Blog posts written by women composers and artists.

In August 2018, saxophonist, composer, and conductor Christine Jensen (Eastman School of Music) joined the blog to discuss melodic statements as leading characters, the importance of navigating form, and analysis of her composition "Red Cedar."

“The lights went on once I really applied myself to voice leading between each vertical harmonic movement. It was so exciting to hear rich harmony connect through close relationships in jazz, and a bonus seeing it move on the piano. My ears opened up, shooting me into the world of composition. If I were to sum up my life as a musician, I am constantly intertwining the act of composition and improvisation, with composition being improvisation slowed down, and improvisation being composition sped up at lightning speed. Masters of improvisation always humble and inspire me for this reason.”

Composer and Saxophonist Christine Jensen reflects on the role of character development, melody, and her upbringing on her way of approaching improvised and composed music.

03/12/2026

Celebrating Women's History Month!

This March, ISJAC is proud to take part in Women's History Month by highlighting Blog posts written by women composers and artists.

In November 2022, drummer, producer, educator, and activist Terri Lyne Carrington joined the blog to discuss the Jazz Without Patriarchy Project, her focus on radical inclusion, and New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers, in conversation with pianist and composer Kris Davis and bassist and composer Devon Gates.

“TLC: I’ve begun to ponder once again why jazz has been so slow to address gender justice. We wouldn’t read books only by male authors, and we wouldn’t watch plays or movies with only male actors, so why would we play music by only – or mostly – male composers? Music is supposed to not only contribute to bettering the human experience, but somehow to also reflect the lives and experiences of people during the time it was played or composed. If we were looking back 100 years from now through a time capsule, what would we think about who played and composed jazz? This problem has existed for far too long.”

ISJAC Board Member Terri Lyne Carrington sat down with Kris Davis and Devon Gates in this interview covering jazz, gender, and new standards.