Pickin’ on the Plectrum (and the Tenor Too)!
A banjo-centric conversation with Hal Smith and John Gill Multi-instrumentalist and bandleader John Gill (“Traditional Jazz’s Stomper-in-Chief,” TST, April 2020) has an encyclopedic knowledge of,
Learning by Listening
I took up the clarinet at the age of nineteen. I am totally self taught and do not read music. In fact, I play the
Eyewitness to the Last of the Jazz Giants
Let’s face it, the jazz scene, as most of us knew it, was never the same after the advent of television. In Boston where I
Re-evaluating Jabbo Smith’s Place In Jazz History
Cladys “Jabbo” Smith was born in 1908 and became a professional trumpet player at age 15. He showed up in New York City in 1925
Dave Kelbie on Gypsy Guitar, Lejazzetal, and More
Dave Kelbie is an in demand rhythm guitarist who has worked with a number of legends of gypsy jazz and more recently hot jazz. He
Fatha Knows Best: Earl Hines and Chicago Style Piano
Pianist Kris Tokarski (“Lendítsd a zongorán!” TST, May 2020) hails from the home state of James P. Johnson and currently lives in Jelly Roll Morton’s
New Director for Louis Armstrong House Museum
Regina Bain has been named the new executive director of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the National Historic Landmark dedicated to the cultural, historical and
Monterey Jazz Bash By the Bay announces cancellation for 2021
With heavy hearts, although with much pride, Brian Holland and Jeff Barnhart, along with the Board of Dixieland Monterey, announce the cancellation of the 41st
Kelsee Vandervall named the New Music Director of The River Raisin Ragtime Review
The River Raisin Ragtime Review Board of Directors announced on Thursday, Kelsee Vandervall will be the new Music Director following the retirement of founding director
Dave Stuckey: Pass the Swingin’ Music, Pappy!
Guitarist-drummer-vocalist Dave “Pappy” Stuckey is also a bandleader, and he is greatly admired by musicians, dancers and listeners across several genres. Dave is also—literally—an award-winning
Ray Skjelbred: Living a Jazz Life, Chicago Style
Pianist Ray Skjelbred is now in his 60th year as a professional jazzman. In this first of a two-part interview, he discusses his formative years,
Jory Woodis: Timing Is Everything
In October of 2019, we saw Jory Woodis, a young clarinetist at Fritzel’s who had a captivating sound and personality. Later we saw him at
Texas Shout #7 Subunits
Set forth below is the seventh “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the June 1990 issue of The American Rag (then West Coast Rag).
Texas Shout #51 What To Look For In Record Reviews
Set forth below is the fifty-first “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay, it first appeared in the June 1994 issue of
Texas Shout #72 Albums: Important vs. “Good”
Set forth below is the seventy-second “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the May 1996 issue of TAR. Because the text has not been
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
A Visit with Paris Washboard
The renowned French quartet Paris Washboard made a brief trip across the pond in February to play four concerts in my neck of the woods.
A Visit with Matt Tolentino
At the West Coast Ragtime Festival in November I sat down for about half an hour for a wide-ranging conversation with multi-instrumentalist Matt Tolentino, who
The Dime Notes • Daylight Savin’
Don Vappie’s Creole Jazz Serenaders • In Search Of King Oliver
Brooks Prumo Orchestra • This Year’s Kisses
Fapy Lafertin • 94-96 The Recordings
Ted des Plantes • 1974-2020 Vol. 3
Digby Fairweather • Notes From A Jazz Life
Fess Williams • Pre-Victors: The Complete Set 1925-1927
Sinne Eeg • We’ve Just begun
Jazz Beat Encore: More Notes on Classic Jazz
Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker
Glenn Jenks • The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano
Reel Jazz! Kevin Whitehead Dissects 93 Years of Jazz Films
Ruth Etting and Annette Hanshaw: Profiles in Jazz
Although they never seemed to have performed together, Ruth Etting and Annette Hanshaw had careers that were often similar. The singers enjoyed strong success starting
Miley, Whetsel, Metcalf and Jenkins: The Beginning Of The Duke Ellington Trumpet Legacy
Most big bands during the swing era had three trumpeters. After that period, trumpet sections grew to four or five musicians generally comprised of one
Benny Goodman: Profile in Jazz
He was the “King of Swing,” one of the greatest clarinetists of all time, and an international celebrity by 1936 who is still a household
Jory Woodis: Timing Is Everything
In October of 2019, we saw Jory Woodis, a young clarinetist at Fritzel’s who had a captivating sound and personality. Later we saw him at
Jazz Festing in Place: The Next Fest Thing
Beth Arroyo Utterback at radio station WWOZ informs that the successful Festing In Place event that was held in lieu of the annual Jazz &
Quotes for Quarantine: from Plato to Pops
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness and gaiety and life to everything.”
From the Sutter Creek Ragtime Pandemic
Just when you thought it could not be done, the Sutter Creek Ragtime Pandemic was held on August 15, 2020. This event reminds me of
From inside a Livestream with Carl Sonny Leyland
The Basin Street Regulars had finally lined up a band for its March Sunday session and it looked like it was going to be a
Cardinals Host Carl Sonny Leyland and the St. Louis Steady Grinders
What is the best way to spend a Thursday night on the California Central Coast? The best way is by a warm fire, with a
Edgar T. Farran: The Third Man
Around the first half of 1905, Justin Ring and Fred Hager split up, and they spent nearly a decade apart from each other. With such
The Beaux of Bronx Park
In the 1890s and 1900s, military bands were all the rage. From Gilmore’s band to your village community band, they were loved by everyone. One
The Beginning of the Manufactured Hit
In the music world, it is easy to overrate the popularity of songs and performers. This is not a new concept, and in terms of
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
W. C. Handy Remembers
The music, words and voice of William Christopher Handy (1873-1958) reveal his passion for Blues music and African American culture. He was one of the earliest gathering
Frank Big Boy Goudie, Pt. 3 of 3, San Francisco 1956-64
Frank Big Boy Goudie (1899-1964) played only clarinet on the West Coast, his most personal voice emerging in an autumnal blossoming of his music. His
Frank Big Boy Goudie, Pt. 2 of 3, South America 1939-46, Europe 1946-56
Creole multi-instrumentalist Frank “Big Boy” Goudie (1899-1964) spent six vibrant years blowing saxophone, trumpet and clarinet in Brazil and South America. Big Boy played Samba-swing,
How To Win Friends and Influence People…At Jazz Festivals
I’m sure you’ve all met him before…there’s one at every jazz festival. You know…that guy. That guy who corners you at the bar after the
Serendipity in Lisdoonvarna
Of all the adventures I’ve had in my worldly travels, one of my least memorable was a night in Lisdoonvarna. Now when I say least
Find Something New
Okay, folks—this mess has gone on long enough. The festivals are dropping like flies and I, along with all the other musicians in the scene,
What was the Maple Leaf Club really like?
Last month I began my comment on the confusing heritage of Sedalia’s Maple Leaf Club (MLC). Was it the benign men’s social club of the
It Is As If There Were Two Maple Leaf Clubs…
“There has to be a balance between literally white-washing or ignoring history and presenting it in actual context…it appear(s) no matter what approach is taken,
Thoughts on learning of the Death of Lucille Salerno
Writing for The Syncopated Times reminds me of the experience of being alive. We go from experiencing the joy and ecstasy of the music we
Multi-Instrumentalist Ira Sullivan dies at 89
Ira Sullivan died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at home in Miami on September 21. He had performed for a couple of Pensacola JazzFests and had
Ragtimer Dick Kroeckel has died at 75
Ragtime pianist Richard Eugene Kroeckel died October 11th, he was 75. Though he was born in Indianapolis most of his career was centered in Colorado.
Pianist Dr. Cleve Baker has died at 85
Dr. Cleve Baker died on August 12, 2020, he was 85 years old. He loved the history of ragtime and jazz and how it intersected
