Ted Panken

Ted Panken is a distinguished American jazz journalist and broadcaster whose work has illuminated the stories behind the music for over four decades. A prolific writer for Down Beat, JazzTimes, Jazziz, and New York Daily News, Panken has authored more than 500 liner notes and contributed in-depth profiles, interviews, and essays that chronicle the artistry and humanity of jazz legends and contemporary innovators alike.

From 1985 to 2008, Panken was a guiding voice on New York’s WKCR, where his radio broadcasts of jazz and creative music became a vital platform for both archival treasures and new expressions. His blog, Today Is The Question, continues this mission—curating rare artist interviews, Blindfold Tests, and oral histories that honor the legacy of artists like Thelonious Monk, Jimmy Heath, Andrew Cyrille, and Pat Metheny.

Celebrated by peers and artists alike, Panken received the Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism Award from the Jazz Journalists Association in 2006. He remains an active member of the JJA’s Critics' Choice nominating committee and is known for his deep listening, thoughtful prose, and commitment to documenting jazz as both an art form and living history.

Follow his writings and archival features at: todayismyquestion.blogspot.com

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