Roundtable: The Benny Goodman Sextet at Basin Street East, 1954
Hal Smith: During the seemingly endless nationwide lockdown, I have enjoyed one positive experience: participating in a series of video discussions regarding the Benny Goodman
Is the Gus Haenschen-Scott Joplin Connection Significant?
Gus Haenschen (1889–1980) was once a highly prominent figure in popular music with his name-recognition reinforced by regular newspaper advertisements and occasional articles. From 1919
Brick Fleagle: What’s in a Name
My wife Laura I lived in New York City for nearly fourteen exciting years, from early 1983 until the summer of 1996. It seemed that
Christopher Davis-Shannon Sparks New Interest in George Formby
For Britons, George Formby is seen as a national treasure. The comedian’s loving portrayals of hapless working-class characters has charmed countless filmgoers, and with statues
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
“Bob Matthews: Drum Solos”, recorded by Bill Russell in 1955, finally released.
Just over two years ago, I was contacted through my Drums In The Twenties website by a man called Bob Matthews. He was at that
Sweet Megg and Ricky Alexander Premiere Video for “Foolin’ Myself”
As we enter the roaring 20s of the 21st century, NYC jazz artists Sweet Megg and Ricky Alexander seamlessly blend the vintage era of the
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
Gunhild Carling: Living the Jazz Life
For some musicians, jazz is the music they play but for multi-talented Gunhild Carling, jazz is her life. She grew up surrounded by it and
Johnathan Stout’s Jazz is Crafted for Dancing
What is authentic swing music? It depends who you ask. Plenty of modern outfits advertise themselves as “authentic” swing musicians—many of them function bands, sporting
Jane Monheit returns to Songbook Roots for new Album
While The Syncopated Times this year celebrates its fifth anniversary, Jane Monheit marks her 20th year as a professional jazz singer with the release of
Texas Shout #1 “Dixieland”
The following introduction was added when the Shouts were reprinted in the late 90s: Set forth below is the initial “Texas Shout” column, reprinted from
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
Texas Shout #13 Playing the Standards
Set forth below is the thirteenth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the Holiday Edition 1990 issue of the West Coast Rag, (Now Syncopated Times.)
A Visit with Domingo Mancuello
Although pianist Domingo Mancuello (pronounced Man-KWAY-o) lives only three miles from me (but not for long—see below), I did not meet him here in Lancaster.
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
Let’s Get Happy Together: Maria Muldaur teams up with Tuba Skinny on new disc
Roya Naldi • A Night in June
Gabe Terracciano Trio • Three Part Invention
Phonographic Yearbook • 1923: “Gonna Play the Villain Part”
At the Jazz Band Ball
Muggsy Spanier • Extreme Rarities: The Jukebox Sessions
Lester Young With The Oscar Peterson Trio
Charleston In The Netherlands 1924-1929
Swingin’ the Blues: The Virtuosity of Eddie Durham, by Topsy M. Durham
It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie by Marty Grosz
12 Jazz Violin Duos composed by Ittzés Tamás
The Lady Swings: Memoirs Of A Jazz Drummer
Jimmy Rushing: Profiles in Jazz
During the swing era, there were two types of male singers that were employed by many big bands, and then there was Jimmy Rushing. While
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
Keep on Truckin’ in the Quarter
Although easing up a bit, the current situation has put a stop to most live music in New Orleans but it has created some alternatives
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
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
The Charming and Cunning Charlie Carson
In 1896, two phonograph engineers were arrested for the first crime not patent related within the recording business. The more famous of the two, Russell
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
You Can’t Kill Death
I don’t know who first said it but it’s as true a statement as one can utter: Death is the great equalizer. On Monday, April
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
Swingin’ the Blues: The Virtuosity of Eddie Durham, by Topsy M. Durham
The monumental role of Eddie Durham (1906-1987) in the development of Swing has been hidden in the corners of Jazz history and mostly overlooked by
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
A Quarantine Year in Review
Well folks, it’s been one full year since our lives all fundamentally changed. If you’d have asked me a year ago where we’d be by
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
Scott Joplin Autographs
For many admirers, a personally signed autograph is a treasured keepsake. For over fifty years I avidly accumulated these bits of personalized ephemera. It all
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
Jazz critic Royal Stokes has died at age 90
Jazz critic W. Royal Stokes passed away on May 1, 2021, he was 90 years old. He was a boogie woogie fan as a teenager
Delmark Records Founder Bob Koester has died.
Bob Koester, founder of Chicago’s Delmark Records and operator of one of the most beloved record stores in the world died on May 12th, he
Broadcaster Andy “Jazzman” Smith has died.
Andrew “Jazzman” Smith of White Bluff, TN passed on March 28, he was 83. He served his country honorably for 20 years in the US
