James Monroe Iglehart Brings Satchmo to Broadway in New Musical
James Monroe Iglehart’s career has been varied and high profile. On Broadway, he’s known for starring in Aladdin (Genie), Spamalot (King Arthur), Hamilton (Marquis de
Talking with Trummy Young: A Fan’s Memories
I lived in Honolulu in the early 1970s. So did the great trombonist Trummy Young, a name I knew well from his work with many
Inside Essentially Ellington: A New Generation Masters Jazz
I’ve attended the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival many times both in the audience and from backstage, and always enjoyed the
An ‘Unloved’ Clarinetist: Reconsidering the Legacy of Odell Rand
Odell Rand was born in 1905 in New Orleans; he died on 22 June 1960 in Chicago, Ill. Robert Stendhal recalls: “I saw Odell Rand
Eddie Durham: Jazz Pioneer, Innovator, and Virtuoso
Eddie Durham was born in 1906 in San Marcos, a small, rural horse and buggy town formed in 1808 and located in Hays County, Texas,
Louisa ‘Blue Lu’ Barker Was More Than a Blues Singer
When I’m not writing about jazz, I’m a kids’ science educator. It’s true—since 2020 I’ve run a small business which delivers workshops and parties to
Syncopated Media, Inc is now a 501c3 Charitable Not-For Profit
It has been a long time coming! The Syncopated Times is now a production of Syncopated Media, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. This means we
Essentially Ellington is Spreading the Joy of Classic Big Band Swing
In May, 2025, the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival (EE) will, as usual, convene in New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln
Art of the Duet: Addendum
While perusing the recent Syncopated Times article “Art of the Duet” (TST, August 2024) about jazz duet albums recorded over the years, some reader is
Tenor Man Harry Allen Brings Jazz into the Digital Age
The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to any number of creative improvisations, each manifesting from the necessity of having to “quarantine in place.” Tenor saxophonist
Allyson Briggs and Fleur Seule Emphasize the Songbook in NYC
There are so many reasons to visit New York City. Musically, you can find almost anything you want there. For example, if you are looking
Dr. Eli Newberger: Tuba Virtuoso
This profile of the late Dr. Eli Newberger was published in the September 2015 issue (and again in the October 2015 issue) of The American
Texas Shouts #17 & #18 Favorite Musicians
Set forth below are the Seventeenth and Eighteenth “Texas Shout” columns. They first appeared in the May and June 1991 issues of the West Coast Rag,
Why No Texas Shout #36?
When the Texas Shouts were reprinted in the late 90s Tex Wyndham decided against reprinting Texas Shout #36 and added the following explanation. The lack
Texas Shout #24 Dixieland vs. Ragtime Part 2
Set forth below is the twenty-fourth “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay, (PART 1 is HERE) it first appeared in the
Happy Landings: The 2024 Roswell Jazz Fest
In late October I attended for the first time the Roswell Jazz Festival in Roswell, NM. I tied it in with my plans to attend
Central PA Ragtime & Music Fest 2024
The 15th annual Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival this year continued a change begun last year. This festival is held in mid- to
Lauren Sansaricq and Charlie Judkins
My bassist-tubist friend Brian Nalepka put me wise to the quintet Miss Maybell and the Jazz Age Artistes and suggested they’d be a good fit
AI Christmas Jazz by Human Curated
Talkative Horns • Musical Conversations on Lucien Barbarin
Three Albums from Colin Perry
The Joymakers • Down Where the Bluebonnets Grow
Dan Gabel and the Abletones • Snowed in
Cory Weeds Meets Champian Fulton • Every Now And Then
Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band
Great Jazz Great Drummers: Masters Of New Orleans Drumming
Jazz With A Beat by Tad Richards
Early Jazz by Fumi Tomita
In With the In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America
Songbook Summit: Fifteen Pioneers of American Sound
Buster Bailey and Barney Bigard: Profiles in Jazz
They were both masterful clarinetists from the South who had notable associations with rather major players. In addition to having the same B.B. initials, their
Lionel Hampton: Profiles in Jazz, Part 2
By 1941, Lionel Hampton (who turned 33 that year) was quite famous. His exuberant playing with the Benny Goodman Quartet and Sextet and his series
Lionel Hampton: Profiles in Jazz, Pt. 1
Lionel Hampton, the first significant jazz vibraphonist in history, was a one-of-a-kind entertainer. He would do almost anything to excite audiences and it was impossible
Oh, to be in N’awlins Now that Autumn’s There!
It is the best time of the year to be in New Orleans with perfect weather, lots of parades and wedding parties! It is not
From the Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee 2024
We attended the 9th Annual Celebration of the Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee over Labor Day weekend. There were eight in our group, with six of
Fun & Music a Mile High in Prescott!
The City of Prescott, Arizona, held its 23rd annual event mostly at the Hassayampa Inn, an historic hotel near the Old Square in the heart
The Secret is Out: The International Classic Jazz Party Is Hot!
Many years ago back in 2011, when I started coming to Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party, the party felt like a bit of a
Summer Delight in Switzerland: Ascona Jazz Fest 2024
In Italian there is a wonderful expression, “sensa parole,” meaning “beyond words.” It’s the only way I can define Ascona in the Italian-speaking canton of
Rhythm in Gloucestershire: The 2024 Cheltenham Jazz Festival
I’m not much of a festival-goer, to be honest. I find myself getting a bit bored after two days of non-stop music and two nights
The Piano Solo and the Recording Horn
Historically, many of us have been told that recording the piano in the acoustic era (before 1925) was extremely difficult, and that because of this
Music Publishers and Recording Companies
When looking through acoustic era recordings, it can be easy to assume that the more common songs we see must have sold well in sheet
From Piano to Orchestra: The Evolution of Accompaniment
In the beginning of recording, among the first things to be recorded regularly were orchestras. Recording so many different instruments was perfected and improved upon
‘Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!’
How I wish I could fact check with a time machine! As with many formative strong childhood memories, music swirls in and out of the
The Lost Hook Tapes
It really is a waiting game based on luck and endurance. I am banking on the idea that if you stick to your artistic career
Birthday Blues
“Everything happens for the best” Does it really? In a continuation of last month’s theme of reality being how we perceive it, perhaps the better
The Odd Brilliance of P.T. Stanton
Horn player P.T. Stanton was a creative, original and mysterious musician who left his signature on the second wave of the Great San Francisco Jazz
Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy
“It seemed the perfect way to fight my war.”– Josephine Baker No American was ever more beloved by the French nation than Josephine Baker. In
Bush Street above Powell in San Francisco: The Club Hangover Story, 1949-61
Club Hangover was the foremost Dixieland and New Orleans Jazz nightclub on the West Coast in the 1950s. The intimate nightspot featured music six nights
Ain’t No Wrong Notes in Jazz
It is easy to be impressed by jazz musicians… if you are not one yourself. We are, after all, an impressive bunch. And I know
Bad Moon Rising
Jazz musicians are a mischievous bunch. I doubt that’s a surprise to any of you, as the history books are filled with stories of pranks
The New Syllabus
There’s been a lot made in the news in recent times about systemic issues in our education system. As I understand it, there seems to
Fifty Years Later, Here We Are!
We got old. Fifty years added to our twenties, thirties, and forties in 1974 equals old for those who have managed to survive. And. for
Helen Traubel Defends Popular Music
My grandmother used to say she couldn’t see because she had Cadillacs in front of her eyes. Well, it must be genetic because I’ve gone
Richard Zimmerman and the First Joplin Fest
This month I conclude my reflections on the first Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in Sedalia in July of 1974. Hopefully someone will write about the
Dr. Eli Newberger has passed away at 83.
Dr. Eli Newberger, a traditional jazz tubist and notable medical professional, passed away on October 24th, he was 83 years old. Pressed into playing tuba
Bob Bequillard of the GJB has died
Bob Bequillard, drummer for Connecticut’s famous Galvanized Jazz Band passed away on October 11th, he was 92. An accountant by day he was also a
Tubist Bob Bauchens has died
Bob Bauchens, a tubist who played at Your Father’s Mustache in the 1970s and would go on to found ARTRA Artist Management passed away on
