His first book, Make It New: Reshaping Jazz in the 21st Century, was published in 2019 by Lever Press and is available in paperback and open access editions. DownBeat magazine called Make It New “a rewarding book that examines some of the key voices directing contemporary jazz.” “In detailing the various meeting points among all of his subjects, Beuttler establishes not so much a sense that jazz is a small world, but that those who reach its creative heights are more alike than different,” wrote reviewer Chris Barton. “From [Esperanza] Spalding’s sharp, sometimes contrarian conversations with Beuttler on creativity and society, to the author’s discussion with [Robert] Glasper around a visit to [Jason Moran's] home in Harlem that seemed near-sacramental with its mix of painting and dinner, Make It New confirms that this is a unique moment in time to be alive and listening to jazz.”
Before joining Emerson, Beuttler spent three years covering jazz for The Boston Globe, which he continues to do occasionally, and teaching journalism at Boston University. His magazine work includes stints as a senior editor at the Discovery Channel, Men's Journal, and Boston magazine, and as an associate editor at DownBeat and American Way. He has also been published in JazzTimes, Jazziz, The Atlantic, Esquire, Chicago magazine, The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Travel Holiday, Cooking Light, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The New York Times Book Review.
Beuttler, a Chicago native, broke into journalism as a police reporter at the legendary City News Bureau of Chicago. His first teaching job was as a visiting professor of magazine journalism at Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He also spent a summer at the American University of Beirut supervising a journalism program designed by journalist and former hostage Terry Anderson.
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About
- Department Writing Literature & Publishing
- Since 2006
Education
M.S., Columbia University
Awards & Honors
Norman & Irma Mann Stearns Distinguished Faculty Award
2016Publications
Make It New: Reshaping Jazz in the 21st Century
2019Explores recent developments in jazz through chapters focused on Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, The Bad Plus, Miguel Zenón, Anat Cohen, Robert Glasper, and Esperanza Spalding. https://www.fulcrum.org/concern/monographs/cv43nz310?locale=en
Publications
Jazz trumpeter Jason Palmer’s disparate inspirations: stolen paintings and stolen lives
2020Trumpeter Jason Palmer describes two recent Boston-centric projects. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/20/arts/jazz-trumpeter-jason-palmers-disparate-inspirations-stolen-paintings-stolen-lives/
Cécile McLorin Salvant and Aaron Diehl a dynamic duo at Jordan Hall
2019Concert review. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/08/arts/cecile-mclorin-salvant-aaron-diehl-dynamic-duo-jordan-hall/
Tyshawn Sorey forcefully pushes past the boundaries between classical and jazz
2019Profile of composer, multi-instrumentalist, and professor Tyshawn Sorey to preview his residency and concert at New England Conservatory. https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2019/09/26/tyshawn-sorey-forcefully-pushes-past-boundaries-between-classical-and-jazz/2hhNOZscZaywwabWbe4W3O/story.html
Jon Batiste is the Newport Jazz Festival’s Mr. Everything
2019Profile of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert musical director Jon Batiste to preview the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival. https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2019/07/31/jon-batiste-newport-jazz-festival-everything/K8xqMVkpZwVQnnXFLpV8OO/story.html
Hutchings and Sons of Kemet flavor their jazz with just about everything
2018Profile of British saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, Sons of Kemet, and their album Your Queen Is a Reptile. https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2018/09/20/hutchings-and-sons-kemet-flavor-their-jazz-with-just-about-everything/EQQKJkfIYw0frlOFbzf0sJ/story.html
In Terence Blanchard’s hands, a trumpet is an instrument of protest
2018Profile of Oscar-winning composer, trumpeter, and bandleader Terence Blanchard on his Black Lives Matter-inspired protest albums. https://www3.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2018/06/05/terence-blanchard-hands-trumpet-instrument-protest/XqyWjt5h3vzqIPlaFhEj1M/story.html?arc404=true
Anything is possible when jazz master Henry Threadgill plays at Newport
2014Profile of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Henry Threadgill in advance of a performance with his band Zooid at the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival. https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2017/08/02/jazz-master-henry-threadgill-ready-for-anything-newport/RkVayJt0z59JcUVK55YbKP/story.html
Esperanza Spalding stages adventurous pop coup at Shubert
2016The Jazzman Cometh
2016Profile of guitar virtuoso Julian Lage as he introduced his new trio. http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2016/DB1604/40-41.html
Sonny Rollins: What I've Learned
2014Interview with saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a28644/sonny-rollins-what-ive-learned/
Renegade of Funk
2014Profile of Robert Glasper as he released the star-studded crossover album that earned him his first Grammy, Black Radio. https://jazztimes.com/features/profiles/robert-glasper-renegade-of-funk/
Publications
The Kamikaze Candidate: Inside Seth Moulton’s Bid for the White House
2019Profile of Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton as he launched his short-lived run for the presidency. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2019/06/11/seth-moulton/
Way More Mr. Nice Guy
2012Profile of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown as he runs against challenger Elizabeth Warren in the most-watched senate race in the country. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/2012/08/28/scott-brown-vs-elizabeth-warren-profiles-senate-race/
Life and Death Decision
2003Interview with novelist and lawyer Scott Turow on his Ultimate Punishment and how he came to oppose the death penalty. https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/interviews/int2003-12-10.htm
Augie's March
2003Profile of Nobel laureate Saul Bellow and the 50th anniversary of his breakthrough novel, The Adventures of Augie March. http://www.billbeuttler.com/augie_s__i_march__i__14915.htm
The Provocateur
2002Profile of newly appointed artistic director Robert Woodruff as he began his run at the American Repertory Theatre. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/15/the-provocateur/
We Work Too Hard
2001Americans in general — and Bostonians in particular — are overworked. John Kenneth Galbraith, Robert Reich, and other local experts discuss why ... and what to do about it. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/15/we-work-too-hard/