Noble Sissle: A Messenger of Musical Uplift
Singer-lyricist-bandleader-entertainer, Noble Sissle occupies an unusual place in the world of ragtime, jazz and show business. He was one of the best-known musicians of the
Hal Smith and Kevin Dorn: Let’s Talk More Great Drummers
Hal Smith: Last June, Kevin Dorn and I talked about some of the people who have influenced our own playing. That article received many positive
George Orendorff on Hearing Bix
In our March issue, Dan Barrett recalled a gig with trumpeter George Orendorff and the story that George told about playing the trumpet break before
On the Road with King Oliver
In 1991, I had been chasing the music of Joe “King” Oliver and Louis Armstrong for seven or eight years. By “chasing,” I mean I
The Story of V Discs
As someone who has had a lifelong love affair with jazz, an interesting question came up in a ZOOM interview I recently had with Dan
Joe St. John: A Tale in Two Jazz Cities
Saxophonist, Joseph Robert St. John had a thirty-year career in Manhattan and Detroit. His New York band battled the great Chick Webb Orchestra and shared a
Different types of Ukulele tunings
As Ukulele is becoming more popular people are learning the basics of string names and a few basic chords, as well as all the different
Dinner Music: Playable Cheese Slices Coming Soon
If Kevin Keaton has his way, you’ll soon be able to pop into your grocer’s dairy case for a snack and some tunes. Keaton, the
The Return of the Festivals
Here’s the post-Valentine’s Day wish of every jazz musician: Roses are Red, Violets are blue— We just want some gigs (And a festival or two).
Pianist Terry Waldo: Wit and Wizardry
The Fungus Five plus Two (“our music grows on you,”) the Gutbucket Syncopators, Waldo’s Ragtime Orchestra, and The Gotham City Jazz Band are only a
Michael Gamble: Better Late than Never
Ask a top swing dancer (or any swing dancer) what first brought them to the hobby, and most will reply: “the music.” Less often does
Meredith Axelrod and Craig Ventresco mark a year of Nightly Livestreams
“I’m going to miss this epidemic,” more than a few jocular Facebook and Instagram visitors are sentimentally waxing about the eventual end to the miraculous,
Texas Shout #12 Women in Dixieland
Editors Note: As I was reading Tex Wyndham’s book of collected Shouts this spring I had a growing feeling that they should be shared again.
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 #54 Jazz Band Hand Signals
Set forth below is the fifty-fourth “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay, (part 1,) it first appeared in the September 1994
A cold live show with Champian Fulton
Like many of you since the onset of COVID, I’ve been itching to be able to attend live music events and festivals. There just haven’t
Charlotte Dickison on her 25 years with the Olympia Jazz Festival
Charlotte Dickison retired as director of the Olympia Jazz Festival after the 2019 edition. She made many friends from all over the US and Canada
Joan Dragon: From Your Father’s Mustache to Suncoast
Suncoast Jazz Festival director Joan Dragon has had a long and varied worklife, in and outside the music world. Having never attended this festival, I
Evan Arntzen • Countermelody
Loudon Wainwright III with Vince Giordano • I’d Rather Lead a Band
Pete Fountain • Standing Room Only
Bill Allred • Swing That Music
The Singapore Slingers • Light My Way To Love
Marty Elkins • ‘Tis Autumn
Hailey Brinnel • I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles
The Aurore Quartet • Le Quecum Bar Live In London
12 Jazz Violin Duos composed by Ittzés Tamás
The Lady Swings: Memoirs Of A Jazz Drummer
Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s by Kimberly Truhler
Jazz and the Jazz Age by Daniel Hardie
Cliff Edwards: Profiles in Jazz
He was a very popular singer and entertainer who, as “Ukulele Ike,” had major accomplishments in the 1920s, he appeared in many films in the
Louis Prima: Profiles in Jazz
Throughout his long career, Louis Prima was a New Orleans-based trumpeter, a good-humored singer, and a lovable personality. While his wide-ranging career can easily be
Johnny Hodges: Profiles in Jazz
He had the most beautiful tone of anyone ever on alto-sax and possibly of all saxophonists (although Stan Getz on tenor came close). When he
More Bits and Pieces
The Orpheum Theater in New Orleans is celebrating its 100th birthday and re-introducing the new Double Dealer speakeasy under the theater. Resembling the backstage setting
Quarter Notes: Bits and Pieces
The Preservation Hall Foundation has started a new virtual instruction program with lesson plans that apply to K-12 educators, students, and parents. Access is free
Mardi Gras Reads
The streets of the French Quarter will be quiet this year as all parade permits and celebrated balls have been cancelled and outside gatherings will
The History Behind “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Billie Holiday has inspired a number of books–often with conflicting views–that try to get a handle on her tumultuous and complex life. There’s an autobiography
With CalBal Live, We Need Not Stop Dancing
As much as I’ve missed dancing during the pandemic—more than I can express, really—it’s not something I’ve sought out online. People have put a ton
From the Virtual West Coast Ragtime Festival
I remember reading Bill Hoffman’s fine column last year in The Syncopated Times describing his first visit to a West Coast Ragtime Festival (WCRF) and
Bert Morphy: The Man Who Sang to Beat the Band
In the 19th century, novelties and curiosities were all the rage. We have all heard of the circus performers, snake oil salesmen, sideshow freaks—but there
Hager’s Two Dollar Overtures
In 1903, two of the major disc record companies ventured into unexplored territory: long playing records. The Victor talking machine company and Columbia phonograph company
Bass Drum Conundrum
In the 19th century, the bass drum in military bands was essential. The use of bass drums continued into the earliest days of recording, but
Clichés in the COVID Cabaret
I am a bacon-wrapped cliché, an idiom in puffed pastry. And sometimes I am the wrong that proves the right. I have been absent from
Keep Your ?#@*&%! Distance!
My eyes are drilling into a Walgreens cashier as she chats up a small boy with his family. I look to the other person in
The Old Town Music Hall and the King of Jazz
When your friend Katie Cavera invites you to go to the movies to see “the worst movie ever made” you cringe, ponder, and then say
Bobby Bruce: Twentieth Century Fiddler
Fiddler Bobby Bruce lived one of the longest and most diverse professional music careers I’ve encountered, performing and arranging for seven decades in Vaudeville, Jazz,
The Triumph and Tragedy of Bunny Berigan
Bunny Berigan is best remembered for his hit recording of “I Can’t Get Started” on which he played trumpet and sang. He was one of
Lyle “Spud” Murphy: Unsung Hero of Swing
Arranger, composer and multi-instrumentalist Spud Murphy wrote 600 charts for the top Swing orchestras of the 1930s, creating colorful and dynamic arrangements that shaped the
For the Record
The way we listen to music has changed a lot in the last decade. And I, probably like many of you, have been absorbing music
Saxophone Repair
As professional musicians, our instruments are our tools of the trade. So, it’s important to keep that instrument in the best possible working condition. Regular
Busking is the New Normal
Over the past Spring in New York, I spent time busking in Central Park with some old friends, many of whom I haven’t played with
Celebrating Missouri’s Music
If anything can dispel the gloom of a negative historical anniversary, it is music. That seems to have been what motivated Dr. Michael J. Budds
Carolina ’Cue Wars…
I believe I have made more valuable and lasting friendships in the past year of so-called social isolation, than I have made in the past
TST 5th Anniversary Project
As I begin writing this column for February, we are only a week into the new year. However, I have already had what will be
Marek Boym 1941- 2021, RIP
Marek Boym passed March 31, a few days after his 80th birthday. I’ve been a lifelong Jazz enthusiast and, at age 76, considered myself fairly
Jack Bradley, photographer and friend to Louis Armstrong, has died.
Jack Bradley died on March 21, he was 87. He discovered Louis Armstrong recordings as a child in the 30s and 40s and would go
George Segal, actor and banjo player, has died at 87.
George Segal died March 23. 2021 near his Santa Rosa, California home. He was perhaps best known for the broad scope of his television and
