Fran Kursztejn

Since: 2025 | Position: Contributor | Reviews Albums | Location: Charlotte | Page Views: 2,442

Contact Me Subscriber

About Me

Southern writer, filmmaker, & jazz freak.

I'm a writer and filmmaker based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Most of the time, I write about a variety of new and old films that have somehow piqued my interest, along with fiction and creative writing for a number of online literary magazines. I'm also a terminal jazz addict. Always have been, since I was twelve and my grandfather played me all those “Genius of Charlie Parker” records. I also offer commissions on musician bios, liner notes, press releases, and copywriting needs. If you like what I write here, and are interested in work for your group, label, or publication, you can reach me at [email protected]. Shoot me a message, I always love talking jazz with new friends.

Badge

Tier

Contributor

Points Earned

2,760

Articles

Articles
Album Reviews
Year End Picks

My preferred album format: CD/Vinyl

Jazz Near You

Your Personal Calendar
✓ Receives Newsletter

Upload Single or Recurring Event
Upload Several Events At Once

Photos

Upload photos

Favorite Musicians / Bands

Adam Rogers

Adam Rudolph

Albert Ayler

Andrew Hill

Archie Shepp

Aretha Franklin

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Art Ensemble Of Chicago

Azar Lawrence

Barre Phillips

Bennie Maupin

Bennie Wallace

Bill Evans

Bill Frisell

Billie Holiday

Billy Hart

Billy Higgins

Binder Quartet: Blumenseele – album debut concert (HU)

Bobby Bradford

Bobby Timmons

Bobo Stenson

Brand X

Buddy Collette

Buster Harding

Calvin Weston

Carlos Niño

Cecil McBee

Cecil Taylor

Cesar Camargo Mariano

Charles Brackeen

Charles Gayle

Charles Mingus

Charles Tyler

Charlie Haden

Charlie Parker

Chick Corea

Chico Freeman

Chico Hamilton

Chris McGregor

Clarence Penn

Coleman Hawkins

Count Basie

Courtney Pine

Curtis Amy

Curtis Clark

Dave Brubeck

Dave Holland

David Murray

Dennis Gonzalez

Derek Bailey

MORE FAVORITES

My Jazz Story

My grandfather, Wojciech Kursztejn, was a (very minor) trumpet player in Kraków from 1965-1968. His professional days were long behind him by the time I was born, but his devotion and admiration for the music never ceased, and eventually trickled down to me. He loved the Americans -- Davis, Coltrane, Ella & Billie -- about as much as he revered the more local Komeda and Stanko. Through him, I became enamored by the global history of the music I loved so much, then reflected in the history of New York and the performers still up and running in the late '00s. I count myself enormously lucky to have had his corrupting influence so early in life, and anything I write here and elsewhere is forever dedicated to his memory.