Howard Mandel (consultant editor) is a Chicago based writer and editor specializing in jazz, blues, new and unusual music. He produces arts features for National Public Radio, teaches at New York University, is president of the Jazz Journalists Association and edits its website [...] Mandel’s books include Future Jazz and Miles Ornette Cecil: Jazz Beyond Jazz. He has written for Down Beat, Musical America, The Wire (UK), Swing Journal (Tokyo), Bravo (Rio de Janeiro), and many other periodicals.

Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts (Foreword) is one of the most in-demand jazz drummers in the world, with several Grammy Awards under his belt. He has played with the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Kenny Garrett’s band, George Benson, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Brecker and many more. He has worked in TV and film, as a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and playing Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. Jeff has an extensive discography as sideman and as a leader.