100 of The Hottest Classic Jazz Albums of 1945-2025, Part 1: 1945-1954
A dedicated Syncopated Times reader (who chooses to remain anonymous) came up with a particularly intriguing idea for an article. While the historic jazz recordings
Murder on the Bandstand: The Tragedy of Evan Thomas
The old jazz tune, “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal, You” is intended to be a funny song about marital infidelity. The cuckold,
The Sant Andreu Jazz Band Competes at Essentially Ellington
If there is any concern among jazz enthusiasts that big band swing is in danger of dying out among the younger generations of musicians, the
New Orleans Rhythm Kings: Their Riverboat Roots
In the March 2025 issue of The Syncopated Times, I wrote that Emmett Hardy, Leon Roppolo, and Lou Black honed their musical skills during the
CONTINUOUS FATS: May 21 to December 15
All piano players, Jazz Bands, Singers and fans of Swing are invited to play or stream a Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller video between his birthday and
Wynton Marsalis Accompanies Silent Film Louis on Tour
Before films began to talk, in the late 1920s, live musicians delivered the soundtracks for silent films. This was sometimes a single pianist or organist,
From St. Louis to Boston, Hot Jazz Follows Anne Linders
Anne Linders won’t take credit for revitalizing the traditional jazz scenes in the two towns she has called home this past decade. Was it just
Emmet Cohen Has a Lot to Say
Emmet Cohen is a multi-talented and innovative musician/pianist who captivates his audiences with style, panache and good humor. He began studying the piano at the
Ryan Calloway: Master of Music, Art, and Dance
Hal Smith: Ryan, you can be contacted for original artwork, graphic design, swing dance instruction, to lead a band and to perform as a sideman.
2025 Bix Jazz Festival: Davenport Blues, Stomps, Rags, Joys
The stage is set for the 2025 Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival; July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 at the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport.
Gulf Coast Banjo Society Relocates During Renovations
Snook Haven County Park & Restaurant, which hosted the Gulf Coast Banjo Society since 1987, is now undergoing a thorough renovation that will take at
CONTINUOUS FATS: May 21 to December 15
All piano players, Jazz Bands, Singers and fans of Swing are invited to play or stream a Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller video between his birthday and
From the Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival
The first weekend in April found me at the Durango (CO) Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival. This festival is a re-incarnation of a previous one
The 2025 NYC Hot Jazz Camp
The 10th annual (except for 2020 when it was cancelled by Covid) New York Hot Jazz Camp convened at its regular home, the Greenwich House
JazzFest at Sea: January 17-27, 2025
After a good experience on my first cruise (the coast of Alaska and British Columbia in 2023), I was open to cruising again. Such an
100 of The Hottest Classic Jazz Albums of 1945-2025, Part 1: 1945-1954
Secret Six Jazz Band • Fireworks
Eight Dice Cloth • The Songs and Arrangements of Armand J. Piron
Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys • Hummin to Myself & Mutiny in the Parlor
Storyville Stompers Brass Band • Count Your Blessings
Rose Room • It’s Been A Long, Long Time
Inspiring The Sixties – The Musical Roots of the Beat Generation
The Amazing Grace Of Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Three Short Book Reviews
Ricky Riccardi • Stomp Off, Let’s Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong
Nightmare In The Pacific: The World War II Saga Of Artie Shaw and His Navy Band
Loving Mr. Ragtime: Max Morath By Diane Fay Skomars
Art Hodes: Profiles in Jazz
Art Hodes was never the type of musician who complained about not getting enough gigs; he always did something about it. He was a fighter
Buck Clayton • Profiles in Jazz
Buck Clayton is most famous today for his association with Count Basie but that is only a small part of his musical legacy, a seven-year
Mary Lou Williams: Profiles in Jazz
Mary Lou Williams had a unique career. For much of her life she was called “jazz’s greatest female musician” but in reality she was simply
No Restin’ ’Cause We’re Festin’!
With Mardi Gras, Quarter Fest, and Easter parades over, the city was ready for the Jazz & Heritage Festival and so were we! Two full
Live Jazz in Tucson, AZ!
Spring begins early in Tucson and The Learning Curve (an adult education program) offered a four week class on The Magic & Music Quincy Jones,
From the San Diego Jazz Party 2025
The San Diego Jazz Party held its annual event the weekend of February 21st and its 20+ musicians and vocalists made it an extremely memorable
Texas Shout #38 Jazz Singers
Set forth below is the thirty-eighth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the April 1993 issue of the West Coast Rag now The Syncopated
Texas Shout #62 Contemporary Ragtimers
Set forth below is the sixty-second “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the June 1995 issue of West Coast Rag, now known as The
Texas Shout #59 Learning To Play, Part 2
Set forth below is the fifty-ninth “Texas Shout” column. The second installment of a three-part essay, it first appeared in the March 1995 issue of
Catherine Russell Swings Delightfully, Indefatigably, Agelessly
The jazz world could use a few more Catherine Russells. Not just because this Grammy Award-winning artist is a wonderful singer, with an appealing sound
A Joyous, Magical Jazz Bash in Monterey, California
My festival reports start with apologies for what I didn’t see. This time, I trust readers will let me to atone in private. The Jazz
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, you need to experience it live.
At 5:15 pm on April 5, my partner asked, “are you going to that ragtime band tonight?” The concert had slipped my mind; I had
Okeh Boldly Ventures into Radio, 1922
When radio became all the rage in the middle 1920s, it was seen as a threat to the phonograph business. Companies like Victor were very
A Study in Condition
When collecting records, we can only hope that each record we acquire plays well enough so we can enjoy its contents. Collecting acoustic era recordings
Siblings in the Early Recording Industry
In several articles I have written about performers whose siblings got into recording, this seemed to have been a more common pattern than expected. To
‘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
Johnny Parth of Document Records
Johnny Parth, founder of Document Records, died May 18, 2025, in Vienna, Austria, at 95. His label rescued pre-1943 jazz, blues, and gospel from obscurity,
George “Doc” Ryan (June 5, 1929 – May 8, 2025)
George “Doc” Ryan, passed away on May 8, 2025, in Arkansas, just shy of his 96th birthday. Known for lyrical cornet playing and a charismatic
Edward Grogan
Edward Grogan passed away on April 5th; he was 98 years old. Born in Bolton, England, he was an officer of the Royal Navy during
