Josef Woodard

Josef Woodard is a veteran journalist-critic-author (writing for the Los Angeles Times for 25 years), is an ongoing contributor to DownBeat magazine, and has written for many other music publications, including Rolling StoneThe Strad, and Chamber Music, as well as the Santa Barbara Independent in his hometown. In addition to penning numerous album liner notes, he won an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for jazz writing and has published two jazz books, on Charles Lloyd and on Charlie Haden, for Silman-James Press, and published his debut novel, Ladies Who Lunch, in 2020. As an active musician/guitarist/composer, he has released many albums on the Household Ink Records label. Among other things, he is also fond of jazz festival-ing and diner grub.

Articles By This Author

Josef Woodard - June 13, 2023

As directed by Rhiannon Giddens, the festival explores improvisation and cross-cultural connections at the expense of European modernism.

Josef Woodard - April 17, 2023

The group’s ambitious Doppelgänger project pairs the composer’s late chamber works with challenging new commissions.

Josef Woodard - March 28, 2023

The premiere of Esmail’s work about water and the environment makes a powerful impression alongside Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem.

Josef Woodard - February 21, 2023

The company realizes Jack Perla’s one-act An American Dream in vivid detail.

Josef Woodard - January 31, 2023

In a rock-solid performance by the Ensemble intercontemporain, a new musical score does everything that the 1924 film could not even imagine.

Josef Woodard - January 27, 2023

Orchestra and music director were united in splendid interpretations of Beethoven and Mussorgsky/Ravel.

Josef Woodard - December 13, 2022

Juan Pablo Contreras’s Lucha Libre! kicked off a program that also featured Gil Shaham playing Dvořák’s Violin Concerto.

Josef Woodard - October 25, 2022

For Piano Spheres, Daniel Newman-Lessler delved into digital electronics, diverse styles, and different vocal techniques.

Josef Woodard - October 24, 2022

Vocalist Luciana Souza and arranger Vince Mendoza open the annual festival with their deep-dive Storytellers project.

Josef Woodard - August 2, 2022

The first weekend back after a three-year hiatus is full of hope for the future of new music.