Scott Asen’s Turtle Bay: A ‘Youthquake’ of Classic Jazz
Turtle Bay Records (TBR), established in 2020, features primarily but not exclusively New York-area musicians who play and/or sing music from the 1920s-’40s. Founded and
A Contrast in Festivals: The Davenport Bix and Whitley Bay
The year 2025 was rather special, as my family and I had the chance to attend both Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party (better known
Harvey Belair: A Tale of a 1920s Jazz Drummer, Part Two
This continues the saga of a Connecticut drummer, hailing from Maine, who lived a brief but exciting musical life during the 1920s. Harvey (Fr: Hervé)
Jazz in Barcelona: The Sant Andreu Jazz Band at 20
One thing jazz lovers today can appreciate is that here are a good number of jazz bands featuring young musicians—in music schools, high schools, colleges,
The Jazz Age Beyond New Orleans: Rediscovering Carlos A. Saco
Not much has been written about Carlos Alberto Saco Herrera—but a century ago, his music was everywhere in Lima. The scarcity of sustained scholarship is
Jug Band Magic in Japan: The Yokohama Jug Band Festival
Shrink the land mass of the continental United States to the size of California. Link every major city by high speed bullet train. Would you
Sherri Colby: Anthropology and the Joy of Music
For the past 40 years, SherriLynn Colby-Bottel has led two lives: one in education and research in the field of anthropology, the study of what
Jon-Erik Kellso: A Motor City Jazz Master in NYC
We all search for our place in the world. Some find it and some don’t. For Jon-Erik Kellso, the stars lined up early. To borrow
Pianist Peter Mintun: The Talk of the Town
Long before anyone used the word “retro,” pianist Peter Mintun fell in love with music from the decades before he was born. And he has
What’s in a Jazz Nickname?
I once met a fighter pilot whose call-sign was “Ice.” I remember thinking it was one of the coolest nicknames I’d ever heard. Obviously this
Praise for “The Miller Effect”
To the Editor: As a consequence of travel, I’m a month behind in my reading of the April edition of The Syncopated Times. Thus, I
Jazz Appreciation Month at the Smithsonian
Last year I took my son to Copenhagen as a reward for doing well in his school exams. It just “happened” to coincide with the
Scott Joplin Ragtime Fest 2026
The 52nd Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, held May 27-30, had not even begun before I met two of the musicians getting off the same train
From the Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival
There’s an adage in show business that says “always leave ’em wanting more.” That, in two ways, sums up my reaction to the Durango Ragtime
From the 2026 New York Hot Jazz Camp
I spent Presidents’ Week in New York working at the annual New York Hot Jazz Camp. I have missed only one year in the Camp’s
Jimmy Scott • Doesn’t Love Mean More
The Greatest Hits Nobody Ever Heard: Under the Midnight Moon
The Three Ts • Live At The Hickory House
Baby Dodds • Spooky Drums: The Father of Jazz Drumming
Will Bradley • Beat Me Daddy
Terry Waldo and the Gotham City Band • Treasury Vol. 3
Phonographic Yearbook 1924: “Open Up Your Golden Gate”
Lester Young, Roy Eldridge and Harry “Sweets” Edison • Laughin’ To Keep From Cryin’
Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Genius of James P. Johnson
Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Genius of James P. Johnson
As Long as They Can Blow: Interracial Jazz Recordings and Other Jive Before 1935
Concerto for Cootie: The Life and Times of Cootie Williams
Marion Harris, Lee Morse, and Teddy Grace: Profiles in Jazz
Marion Harris, Lee Morse, and Teddy Grace had several things in common. Each were talented jazz-oriented singers who are largely forgotten today. They each had
Art Tatum: Profiles in Jazz
Who was the greatest musician ever to play jazz? While one can make the case for Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane among others,
Profiles in Jazz: Svend Asmussen and Oscar Alemán
It has been said, way too often, that “jazz is America’s only indigenous art form.” That cliched statement is inaccurate in two ways. Jazz is
Festin’ With No Restin’!
The few days between the weekends offer a quieter respite with afternoon jam sessions at Fritzel’s and casual evening performances while welcoming the various international
A Quarter for My Thoughts!
The French Quarter Fest in New Orleans was pushed back to the weekend before the two Jazz Fest weekends so we decided to go for
Never Resting on One’s Laurels!
The Learning Curve, one of our local Adult Education programs focusing on Arts, Humanities, Music, Literature & History, held its spring music class with Conductor
Texas Shout #9 Entertaining the Audience
Set forth below is the ninth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the August 1990 issue of The West Coast Rag, now known as
Texas Shout #58 Learning To Play, Part 1
Set forth below is the fifty-eighth “Texas Shout” column. The initial installment of a three-part essay, it first appeared in the February 1995 issue of
Texas Shout #33 White New Orleans Dixieland, Part 2
Set forth below is the thirty-third “Texas Shout” column, the conclusion of a two-part essay that first appeared in the September and October 1992 issues
The West Texas Jazz Party: Sixty Years of Classic Jazz in Odessa, TX
The West Texas Jazz Party continues to hold the top spot when it comes to longevity for jazz parties, having celebrated its 60th anniversary in
Mike Durham’s International Jazz Party: What a Blast!
At 4 am on a Monday last year, I ambled down the front steps of the Village Hotel, humming “Clap Yo’ Hands” from Michael McQuaid’s
Jazz is Where You Find It: Fest Jazz 2025 in Brittany
It has been our pleasure over the years to combine sight-seeing trips abroad with visits to diverse jazz clubs, festivals, and concerts in Ascona, Edinburgh,
Simone Mantia, Master of the Euphonium
In this column I have written much about trombonist Arthur Pryor, and while he did lead his own band, his long time assistant was fellow
A Nickel a Play: Exhibiting the Phonograph
In the 1890s, the phonograph was still so new to most of the public. Not only was it new, it was expensive. Very few people
‘Notorious Adultery’: The Divorce of Justin Ring
In 1911, Justin Ring found himself in court for divorce. It was a rather nasty case, and the reasons for it were different than I
‘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
‘Smiley’ Wallace, Beloved in Ragtime Community, Dies at 93
When Mary Grace Lanese called to tell me “Smiley” Wallace had died at age 93, on October 2, delightful memories of a long friendship with
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
Abdullah Ibrahim, known as Dollar Brand, dies at 91
Abdullah Ibrahim, known to an earlier generation as Dollar Brand, died on June 15, 2026, in Bavaria, Germany. He was 91. Born Adolph Johannes Brand
Pittsburgh jazz guitarist Joe Negri has died
Joe Negri, a Pittsburgh jazz guitarist who spent a lifetime bringing the warmth of the swing tradition to concert stages, university classrooms, and children’s television,
Recording engineer Michael Perez-Cisneros has died.
The jazz recording community lost one of its most trusted ears on June 19, with the sudden and unexpected death of Michael Perez-Cisneros, a Grammy-winning
