SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: LONG-FORM JOURNALISM

Jazz can be intimidating if you’re new to the genre. It’s hard to know where to start. But, if you know the artist, it’s easier to appreciate their art.

At the Smithsonian, I researched and produced stories profiling jazz legends to anchor new fans in a compelling narrative. A highlight of my work was a two-part series on Rudy Van Gelder.

After graduating from optometry school, Rudy built a recording studio in his parent’s living room where he recorded seminal Miles Davis performances. Van Gelder went on to engineer legendary records which became pillars of modern jazz such as John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme.