Jay Mazza has been a fixture on the music scene in New Orleans since 1979. He has published three books. I Got the Fish in the Head: A Radiators Retrospective appeared in 2011. Up Front and Center: New Orleans Music at the End of the 20th Century followed in 2012. In 2013, Not Just Another Thursday Night: Kermit Ruffins and Vaughan’s Lounge was published.
He was the music writer for the Louisiana Weekly from 1993-2005. His work has appeared in numerous publications including the Times-Picayune, the New Orleans Advocate, Downbeat magazine, OffBeat magazine, Gambit Weekly and he was the editor of Beat Street magazine from 2001-2004.
He appeared on the Alison Minor Stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to talk about Up Front and Center: New Orleans Music at the End of the 20th Century in 2013 and signed books in the book tent. In 2016, he was honored with the Scribe award by the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame for his ongoing written contributions to the Black culture of New Orleans.
He founded and operates Music in Motion, a music publicity company. Currently, he is the New Orleans City Editor for www.thevinyldistrict.com, the publicist for Family Fish Productions and is working on a book about jazz funerals.
“You can always trust Jay Mazza’s musical judgment. He’s always on the scene to find out the real deal.” Kirk Joseph, founding member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Backyard Groove
“He’s been on the scene for as long as I can remember.” Corey Henry, Corey Henry’s Tremé Funktet