Nat Hentoff

Nat Hentoff (1925-2017) was an American writer, jazz critic, and passionate advocate for civil liberties whose prolific career spanned over six decades. Born in Boston, Hentoff developed an early passion for jazz and became one of the genre's most respected and knowledgeable critics. He contributed extensively to The Village Voice and The New Yorker, writing insightful pieces about jazz musicians, music history, and American culture. Beyond music criticism, Hentoff was a committed advocate for free speech and First Amendment rights, frequently writing about censorship and civil liberties issues. He authored over thirty books, including young adult novels like 'The Day They Came to Arrest the Book' and 'Jazz Country,' which introduced younger readers to both jazz culture and questions of freedom and identity. His journalism and essays addressed numerous social and political issues, always grounded in a conviction that free expression and individual liberty were fundamental. Hentoff interviewed and wrote about nearly every major jazz figure of the twentieth century, creating an invaluable historical record. His impact on jazz criticism and literature for young adults was significant, offering intelligent, accessible explorations of complex cultural and social topics. Hentoff's legacy is that of a principled intellectual who used his writing to celebrate art, defend freedom, and challenge injustice.