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Glenn Astarita

Freelance music journalist located in Nashville via New Orleans.

About Me

Residing in Nashville since late 2005 (due to hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area). But originally from New York City. I'm a drummer (but haven't played in years), music journalist and have worked in the technology industry since 1989 as a consultant and engineer. Over the past several years my primary focus is Project Management and freelance music journalism. I also contributed to Downbeat for 6-years: All Music, Jazz Review, Ejazznews, the New Orleans Weekly Gambit, Offbeat, and have covered music festivals and concerts.

My Jazz Story

I was exposed to jazz as a youngster, thanks to my father. I also enjoy writing about free-jazz, electronica, progressive-rock, progressive-metal and world-jazz formats. I enjoy hearing new sounds and in my older age have been exploring young, neo-psyche bands, largely due to the hip young musicians who work at Nashville's eminent LP store, Grimeys. Growing up listening to my father's swing-era LPs along with Sinatra, Dick Haymes and Louie Armstrong, I was bitten by the early prog rock and jazz- fusion movements. For example, when I first saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970's I was blown away, especially since I'm a drummer and was in awe of Billy Cobham and his massive Fibes drumset. Like many others at that time, I became a fan of King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant and even a young, nascent outside jazz artist, Anthony Braxton. These days I tend to focus on newer concepts in jazz and still an ardent fan of nouveau rock concepts. That's it for now: happy listening!