Ken Peplowski: Remembering a Magnificent Reedman
On February 3rd, I went out to shovel snow and buy some groceries. When I got back home, I checked messages. The first, just two
Bill Charlap On Finding Teddy Wilson’s Legendary Work
Teddy Wilson looms over early jazz piano, just as Bill Charlap does today. It is unsurprising that Mr. Charlap, who in addition to his performing
Jazz in 1940s Chicago: The McPartlands at the Brass Rail
Wednesday Night, July 2nd, 1947 I returned to the Chicago loop via fast electric coach from the University of Chicago on the South Side and
Rebecca Kilgore Talks About Her Influences, Critics, and Challenges
Vocalist Rebecca Kilgore (1949-2026) was interviewed by Monk Rowe on September 3, 1997, at the Allegheny Jazz Party, Chautauqua, NY, (Interview courtesy Fillius Jazz Archive,
Harvey Belair: A Tale of a 1920s Drummer
In my musings of New England’s often untapped early jazz history over the past couple of years, I made the pleasant discovery of a percussionist
Joe Muranyi on his Beginnings, Trad Jazz, and Louis Armstrong
Clarinetist Joe Muranyi was born in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio on January 14, 1928. He worked as a record producer for major labels and played alongside
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
Multi-Instrumentalist Gavin Rice Brings the Jazz Age to Life
There’s a new face on the New York-area trad jazz scene that I think is worth your attention. But you may not have to travel
Lewis Nash: Rhythm Is My Business
Drummer Lewis Nash is noted for his adaptability to a wide range of musical genres and having one of the largest discographies in jazz to
Tribute to George Smith
I spent a lot of time with George Smith and I want to share my memories of him. Our family moved here in 1999 and
Tribute to Paul Ingle
It is with great sadness that I learned of Paul Ingle’s passing. Paul Ingle first visited our festival in 2018 at the urging of John
Basin Street Regulars Scholarships at the Teagarden Jazz Camp
The Basin Street Regulars, Inc. By-Laws state: “….the Corporation is organized and operated for: a. Preserving and promoting traditional jazz. b. Providing a common meeting
From the 2025 Central PA Ragtime Festival
The 16th Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival took place, as usual, at several venues in Huntingdon County on September 18-21. While most events
Cat and the Hounds at Birdland
There is a question in Judaism that’s asked once a year: “Why is this night different from all other nights?” It refers to the festival
Jazz Travels: Louis Haunts and Cellar Boys
As I hinted last month, there is a cadenza to my time at the Bix Beiderbecke festival. On my way to Rhinelander, WI, where I
Mosaic Records • Classic Earl Hines Sessions 1928-1945
Ricky Alexander • Ragology
Chris Hopkins Meets The Young Lions Vol. 2 – Live
Phonographic Yearbook 1903: ’Twas On The Good Ship Cuspidor
Lee Morse • Echoes of a Songbird
Dániel Szabó • Ragged
Red Norvo Septet • The Secret Session
Angela Verbrugge • In the Wonder of the Night
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
Clancy Hayes: The Swinging Minstrel By Chris Reid with Hal Smith
Billy Butterfield: Profiles in Jazz
A superb all-round trumpeter, Billy Butterfield had a warm tone, strong technical skills, and a versatile style that found him equally at home playing swing,
Muggsy Spanier: Profiles in Jazz
Cornetist Muggsy Spanier always had a distinctive sound, was consistently enthusiastic in his playing, and was very reliable whether leading a Dixieland ensemble or taking
Frank Signorelli and Rube Bloom: Profiles in Jazz
While they never recorded together, Frank Signorelli and Rube Bloom had several similarities in their careers. Both were excellent jazz pianists who appeared on many
All Because It’s Carnival Time!
When Al Johnson recorded that song in December, 1959, I’m sure he had no idea it would be recreated thousands of times since and certainly
You’ve Never Had King Cake?
We are heading back to New Orleans next week and looking forward to the Carnival tradition of King Cake…and some oysters of course! The round
Classes, Concerts, and Cafes—Oh, My!
A busy month started off with Sheryl Ann Mckinley and her sextet for her debut at the Gaslight Music Hall, one of our favorite venues.
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 #47 Will Dixieland Jazz Make A Comeback?
Set forth below is the forty-seventh “Texas Shout” column. The initial installment of a two-part essay, it first appeared in the February 1994 issue of
Texas Shout #70 Melodic Improvisation
Set forth below is the seventieth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the March 1996 issue of The American Rag. The text has not
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,
‘We Go for That’: The Redwood Coast Music Festival (Oct. 2-5, 2025)
My title comes from a Thirties phrase for “I really like that,” found in a wonderful Frank Loesser left-handed love song (“Your fuzzy hair, your
Lambert Cylinders: Indestructible and Intriguing
Most recording companies of the acoustic era can be relatively well tracked in terms of their locations and employees, but there is one that still
P. S. Gilmore: Pioneer on the Bandstand and in the Studio
If you were a young musician in the late 19th century, you most likely would have aspirations to be in Gilmore’s band. This band was
Len Spencer: The Recording Pioneer with a Surprising Lineage
In this column I have written several times about singer Len Spencer, and you’d think there wasn’t much more to say about him, but he
‘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
Floyd “Uncle Floyd” Vivino (1951–2026)
Floyd Vivino, known professionally as “Uncle Floyd,” died on January 22, 2026; he was 74. A pianist, television host, and entertainer, he became a regional
Ernie Hackett
Drummer Ernie Hackett, son of cornetist Bobby Hackett, died December 23, 2025. He was a New York based musician and an important chronicler of his
Australian jazz trombonist Paul Ingle
Australian jazz trombonist, vocalist, and bandleader Paul Ingle died on January 12th, he was 75. Ingle was a mainstay of the Australian traditional jazz scene,
