A Wonderful World: Telling Louis Armstrong’s Story on Broadway
The lights go down in Broadway’s Studio 54. And the theater is filled with the electrifying first notes of “West End Blues.” We’re hearing the
History and Rebirth of the Quintette du Hot Club de France
Until very recently, I thought that the Hot Club de France was simply the name of the band led by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli
Violinist Daniel Garlitsky Revives the Quintette du Hot Club de France
What’s in a name? A quintet by any other name would sound as sweet! At least, that’s what went through my mind when my good
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
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
Klas Lindquist: Sweden’s Alto Sax Virtuoso Finds His Groove
Klas Lindquist, a Swedish saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, has spent decades carving his niche in the jazz world. Drawing inspiration from legends like Johnny Hodges,
Violinist Daniel Garlitsky Revives the Quintette du Hot Club de France
What’s in a name? A quintet by any other name would sound as sweet! At least, that’s what went through my mind when my good
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
Texas Shout #57 Fats Waller, etc.
Set forth below is the fifty-seventh “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay, it first appeared in the December 1994 issue of
Texas Shout #3 Hot Dance
Set forth below is the third “Texas Shout” column, reprinted from the February 1990 issue of The American Rag (then West Coast Rag). It was
Texas Shout #64 Should that Tune Really be Revived?
Set forth below is the sixty-fourth “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay, (part 1,) it first appeared in the August 1995
From the Final Arizona Classic Jazz Fest
For the third, and unfortunately last, time I attended the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Chandler on October 31-November 3.
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
After Midnight • C’est Si Bon
The New Orleans Night Owls • St. Louis Rag
Bridgetown Sextet • Functionizin’
Blue Moon Marquee • New Orleans Sessions
The Joymakers • Down Where The Bluebonnets Grow
Keenan McKenzie & The Riffers • Lakewood Jump
Louis Jordan World Broadcast Recordings
Johnny Guarnieri Plays Harry Warren
Artie Shaw: Icon of Swing
The Genesis and Exodus of Preservation Hall: The Ken Grayson Mills Story
Jazz With A Beat by Tad Richards
Early Jazz by Fumi Tomita
Teddy Wilson: Profiles in Jazz
Teddy Wilson always stood apart from the stereotypes attached to jazz musicians of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. He was soft-spoken, distinguished, reliable, and very
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
Arizona Classic Jazz Fest: So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu!
The Arizona Classic Jazz Society held its final Festival the first weekend in November—it was a bittersweet weekend with lots of music, friends and shared
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
Tatiana Eva-Marie and the Avalon Jazz Band at Caffè Lena
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY, Dec. 5, 2024 My grasp of French is tenuous, and that puts it generously. I’m good at classic French dishes
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
George Schweinfest: The Last Pioneer
In this column I have written about many figures who were instrumental in the acoustic recording era, but often go unnoticed. One figure who fits
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
‘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
Help Save Ragtime’s History
I was recently contacted by a gentleman in New York who has had to curtail playing the piano due to the challenges of aging and
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
Martial Solal
Martial Solal died on December 12th; he was 97. The Algeria-born French pianist had been active in Europe since the 1950s. He performed with Django
Marvin “Doc” Holladay
Marvin “Doc” Holladay died on November 25th, 2024. He was 95 years old. He was a baritone saxophonist and ethnomusicologist. After working as a freelance
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
