Joan Merrill — Writer and Producer

INDEPENDENT VIDEO PRODUCER
(Merrill Video Productions) 1984-2000
Produced video documentary Saying It With Jazz on the importance of lyrics featuring Carmen McRae and others. Favorable reviews in DownBeat, JazzTimes, and Jazz Now.
See sayingitwithjazz.com

CEO: SAYING IT WITH JAZZ
Talent Management/Booking
(jazz singers, Ernestine Anderson, Rebecca Parris, Denise Perrier) 1998-2001

CD PRODUCER
Nancy Kelly “Well, Alright!” 2009
Rebecca Parris “You Don’t Know Me” 2007
“The Second Time Around” by Denise Perrier 2008
“Que Sera! Celebrating Doris Day” by Kristi King 2012

INDEPENDENT RADIO PRODUCER 1992-2001
Produced 14 shows for NPR’s "Jazz Profiles" (hosted by Nancy Wilson): mostly vocalists such as Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, and others.
One of Merrill’s shows (“The Words”) was included in the five sample programs presented to the Peabody Committee, which selected
"Jazz Profiles" for an award in 2001.

According to executive producer Tim Owens, this was one of host Nancy Wilson's favorite shows.

Produced four shows for PRI’s Smithsonian Productions “Jazz Singers”

FICTION WRITER
JazzMostly, a column by the late Bruce Crowther.
“Jazz Crimes" – Joan Merrill February 1, 2013

Given Joan Merrill’s impeccable jazz credentials, her decision to write jazz-based crime novels meant there was a good chance that the characters and the settings would be right. But could she write crime fiction?
Joan’s first novel was published in 2010 and it was immediately apparent that she certainly could. Creating an exceptionally good lead character, gutsy San Francisco-based PI Casey McKie, who happens to be a jazz fan. And All That Murder kicks off when Casey’s good friend, veteran jazz singer and club owner Dee Jefferson, urges her to inquire into the death of a jazz club owner. As Casey investigates, the bodies pile up, all linked to jazz.

The Casey McKie mystery series:
And All That Motive (2014)
And All That Madness (2012)
And All That Stalking (2011)
And All That Sea (2010)
And All That Murder (2009)

WINNER
Six Word Novel Contest by Book It Repertory Theater, Seattle, 2013

PRODUCER
Kristi King Tribute Concerts
2011 to present
"Qué Sera! Celebrating Doris Day," a popular stage show starring Kristi King. Other tribute shows followed: “Peggy Lee, I Love Being Here With You,” “The Great American Songbook,” and “Country Girls” (“Honky Tonk Angels”)

RADIO HOST: 2019 to present
"The Great American Songbook with JM JAZZ" WETF-LP The Jazz Station, South Bend, Indiana.
(to listen to 80 shows in historical context, check out the website sayingitwithjazz.com.

PUBLICATIONS
Liner Notes
“To Etta With Love,” Houston Person (High Note 2004)
“Sentimental Journey,” Houston Person (High Note 2003))

"Doris Day: A Great Entertainer, Not a Symbol of Repression."
Joan Merrill remembers a singer and actress whose work will be remembered by her legions of fans.

Jazz Journal -01 June 2019

Website Production:
carmenmcrae.com
sayingitwithjazz.com
deniseperrier.com
Kristiking.com

EDUCATION
MLA, Stanford University, 2000,
Thesis topic: “Jazz or Ersatz: the Criteria of Authentic Jazz Singing.”

CONTACT
Email: jazzmysteries@gmail.com