Fig & Fox: A Remembrance of Nat Morison, Patriarch of Welbourne
Nat Morison – patriarch, devotee of early New Orleans jazz, Mets fan, host of the annual Welbourne Cakewalk/Stoke Stomp, and treasured friend of many in
Graphic novelist Chris Ware discusses the leitmotif of Ragtime in his life and work
From The Ragtime Ephemeralist to Rusty Brown For some time now I have wanted to interview Chris Ware for The Syncopated Times. Over the years
Memories of Capone’s Chicago Tea Room: Legendary Sacramento Jazz Joint, by Bob Ringwald
I’ve played a b’zillion jazz piano and banjo gigs over the past 60 years. None can compare, however, with my long-time gig at Capone’s Chicago
Ragtimer and ’60s Pop Idol Ian Whitcomb on the Mend
Listen in your mind with me for a moment and hear the joyful “strummings” and vocals of an Ian and Regina Whitcomb routine. Recall the
Ed Clute Video Goes ‘Viral’ with 7.8 Million Views
Pianist Ed Clute, who was featured in the February 2016 issue of The Syncopated Times, has achieved worldwide recognition for his incredible playing, thanks to
Larry Karp Memorial Fund Award Seeks Submissions from Ragtime Kids
The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation (SJIRF) has recently announced the Larry Karp Memorial Fund Award Program. The award will recognize and educate young ragtime
The Vitality Five are Perfectionists with Pep
For some musicians, good enough just ain’t good enough—only perfection will do. In his autobiography Trumpet on the Wing, Joe Manone remembers Bix Beiderbecke chastising
Skip Parsons has kept the Riverboat Jazz Band afloat for 63 years!
In September 1956, Albany, NY-based clarinetist Skip Parsons played his first gig with his Riverboat Six at the Van Schoick Tavern in Cohoes, N.Y. He
Jazz Drummer Hal Smith: An Exclusive Interview
While in Davenport for this year’s Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, I had the opportunity to sit down with drummer Hal Smith to discuss his
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 #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 #56 Fats Waller and Crediting Composers
Set forth below is the fifty-sixth “Texas Shout” column. The initial installment of a two-part essay, it first appeared in the November 1994 issue of
From The Central Pennsylvania Ragtime & American Music Festival
The eleventh annual Central Pennsylvania Ragtime & American Music Festival took place on September 20-22 in Orbisonia and Mount Union. There was a slight change
An Important Message from Vince Giordano
What are you—yes YOU—doing to keep traditional jazz alive? That was the recurring theme of my recent conversation with Vince Giordano, leader of the Nighthawks,
From The 48th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival
The 48th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival occurred from July 31 through August 3 at the perennially over-air conditioned Rhythm City Casino in Davenport,
Muggsy Spanier Rare And Unissued Recordings 1941-1952
George Lewis at the Beginning
Mad Hat Hucksters: Night of the Lindy Dead
Galvanized Jazz Band: Sweet Substitutes
Arthur Fields Anthology: Singer, Songwriter, Soldier- Recordings 1914-1951
Satchmo: A Musical Autobiography
Protobilly: The Minstrel and Tin Pan Alley DNA of Country Music
Sol Yaged and Tino Valpa Your Wish Is My Command
The Show Won’t Go On by Jeff Abraham and Burt Kearns
Superstride: A Biography and Discography of Johnny Guarnieri by Derek Coller
Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond
Superstride: A Biography and Discography of Johnny Guarnieri by Derek Coller
Ethel Waters: Profiles in Jazz
During the 1921-25 period, it seemed as if every African-American female singer who could carry a tune was being rushed into a recording studio to
Eddie Lang: Profiles in Jazz
The finest jazz guitarist of his short lifetime, Eddie Lang was masterful as both a melodic soloist and a sophisticated accompanist, whether playing bluesy single-note
The Russell Family’s Legacy of Jazz: Luis Russell, Carline Ray, & Catherine Russell
It has always seemed a bit improbable that Catherine Russell, the vibrant and exciting swing singer, is the daughter of Luis Russell, the leader of
The Sazerac House Opens on Magazine St.
The grand opening of the Sazerac House at 101 Magazine (at Canal) took place Wednesday, October 2nd. This estimated $50 million project began as a
Bourbon Street: Once Upon a Time, There was a …
Our favorite hotel was previously named The Inn On Bourbon at 541 Bourbon and was the site of the famous multi-storied French Opera House, established
New Orleans’ Carousel Bar Turns 70
The Carousel Bar inside the Hotel Monteleone in the two hundred block of Royal Street is the only revolving bar in New Orleans. Installed on
North Carolina Jazz Festival Plans 40th Annual Bash
On a cold winter’s night in Chicago, 1979, Dr. Harry Van Velsor, esteemed Wilmington, NC, dermatologist and jazz musician, stopped in a local bar for
Second Annual Jump, Jive & Jazz Scheduled in Oregon, March 2020
A second annual jazz and swing mini-festival has been announced by the popular “Live at the Shrine” dance committee. The event, titled Jump, Jive & Jazz,
10th Annual Eddie Lang Day in Philadelphia 10/27
Richard Barnes returns with his 12 pc 1920s-30s jazz band the Blackbird Society Orchestra to celebrate the 10th Annual Eddie Lang Day Philadelphia. The Tri State
From the Pershore UK Jazz Festival
The last thing I expected from my 10th annual visit to the Pershore Jazz Festival was the premiere of an unreleased Benny Goodman tune. Yet
Ragfest 2019: Scintillating Syncopation
A surfeit of syncopation descended on Southern California’s Orange County on September 7 as RagFest 2019 attracted a goodly complement of enthusiasts to revel in
From the 2019 Bude Jazz Festival
How does one summarize a four-day festival? Let’s start with the setting. The program lists 35 bands, not all OKOM, or at least my kind
James: The Other Hager Brother
In this column, I often speak of the studio pianists that were the driving force on thousands of records made from 1889 to 1925. Perhaps
Fred Hager tangles with Victor Herbert
In 1895, a twenty year old Fred W. Hager organized his military orchestra of 26 musicians. At that time, Hager was the youngest professional bandleader
Arthur Pryor and the Birth of Ragtime
In 1893, twenty two year old Arthur Pryor performed his first trombone solo with Sousa’s Band. The time and place couldn’t have been better. The
Everybody Comes to Curley’s!
David Boeddinghaus, Banu Gibson, Tim Laughlin, Chloe Feoranzo, The entire Baker/Clancy family, Ralf and John Reynolds, Bob Ringwald, Dawn Lambeth, Chet Jaeger, and Pieter Meijers
Laurence Juber Rules the ‘Realm of the Tune’
My television was on, but I wasn’t watching—until the talent of Laurence Juber demanded my attention. His finger style guitar playing was stunning. My ears
Testifyin’
I recently observed that, in your youth, you know you have a dear friend if they help you move. At my age, if they show
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra Live!
Live concerts, location recordings and broadcast transcriptions of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra from 1940 to 1963 reveal a distinctive body of work separate
Frank Chace: Jazz Clarinet Legend
Frank Chace was admired for his expressive clarinet style in a lineage from Chicago jazz of the 1920s and ‘30s. Little-known but intensely creative, his
James P. Johnson: Forgotten Musical Genius
The music of early Jazz piano player James P. Johnson, the creator of Harlem Stride Piano, is explored in this award-winning production. Actor Peter Coyote
Things that jazz musicians are really afraid of
Halloween is once again upon us. Being from Australia and not celebrating this holiday as a youngster, I’ve found this to be a peculiar American
A Sincere Apology
Hi folks. I’ve been writing this regular column for a few years now, a pursuit that I’ve very much enjoyed. However, recently I received a
The Mind of the Jazz Musician
Jazz musicians are highly trained professionals, just as in any other skilled professional field. Whilst on stage, it may appear to the causal observer that
My Musical Family
My column requires a disclaimer this month because frankly, it amounts to little more than a grandfather bragging obnoxiously about his grandchildren. That written, I’ve
Joplin’s Landmark School
In my April 2018 column, I wrote of the accomplishments of the good people of Texarkana and the work they are doing to preserve their
Michael Chisholm’s Labors of Love
Making new friends and learning more about older acquaintances is one of the many rewards of being part of the on-line ragtime community. I am
Trombonist George Masso has died at age 92
Trombonist, vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader George Masso died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, he was 92. The son of a trumpet-playing bandleader, George Masso’s musical education
Nick Tosches, Author of Music Biographies and Novels, has Died.
Nick Tosches, a music journalist who wrote several important biographies as well seven novels died on Sunday, October 20th, he was 69. He began selling
Nathaniel Holmes Morison, III, The Gentleman of Welbourne, has passed.
Nathaniel Holmes Morison, III, of Welbourne, Middleburg, Virginia, died October 10th, he was 83. After completing his schooling he returned to Welbourne to run the