Jazz Writing & Research
Hank Hehmsoth writes on jazz history, archival research, cultural memory, and interdisciplinary art. His writing has appeared in All About Jazz and the Jazz Journalists Association, and his research projects include the Dan Morgenstern Collection, Just Jazz television archives, and The History of Jazz Drums archive.
See also: Research Projects & Archives
This page gathers selected authored features and research essays (with canonical links to the original publications).
Kenny Dorham: The Composer in the Horn - A Verified Chronology, 1953–1964
A verified, chronological listen-through of Kenny Dorham’s compositions (1953–1964), organized by first recording date to trace his evolving language from bebop craft to post-bop clarity.
Songs for Nica: How Jazz Fell in Love with a Baroness
A deep-dive into Pannonica de Koenigswarter’s legacy through the compositions written in her honor—where patronage, friendship, and jazz repertoire intersect.
Eddie Durham: The Jazz Innovator a City Refuses to Forget
A portrait of Eddie Durham’s legacy—innovator, arranger, and architect of swing—connecting his San Marcos roots to the Calaboose Museum and the community work keeping his story alive.
Charles Rangel: Harlem’s Congressman, Jazz’s Quiet Witness
A cultural portrait of Charles Rangel as Harlem’s living archive—drawn from the National Jazz Museum in Harlem’s oral-history series, where jazz memory, place, and public life intersect.
Unearthed and Unforgettable: The Lost Tapes of Just Jazz
An archival exploration of the rediscovered Just Jazz recordings—rare filmed performances and the preservation work bringing them back into public view as cultural memory.
The History of Jazz Drums: An Archival Treasure Rediscovered
A research-driven tour through The History of Jazz Drums archive—an eight-part series capturing the evolution of jazz drumming through oral history and rare documentation. Named one of All About Jazz’s Most Read Articles of 2025.
The Visual Language of Jazz: Artwork by Hank Hehmsoth
A curated gallery exploring how improvisation, rhythm, and jazz thinking translate into abstract visual form—spanning album artwork, posters, and jazz-inspired paintings.
Dan Morgenstern, Jazz Journalist, Turns 90
A cultural profile honoring NEA Jazz Master Dan Morgenstern on his 90th birthday—reflecting on his legacy as a historian, critic, and guiding voice in jazz journalism and scholarship.