1920: The Year Broadway Learned To Syncopate
A playlist providing discographical information for all of the sample tracks follows the article. The arrival of George Gershwin on the Broadway scene, heralded by
Norman Vickers: Jazz Doc and More
Norman Vickers is known as a harmonica-playing physician who was a pioneer in his field in his adopted city, and who for the past 40
Dinah, Keep Blowing Your Horn
Last fall I wrote an essay for The Syncopated Times titled, “Reconsidering “Dixieland Jazz”, How The Name Has Harmed The Music”. It encouraged the remaining
Recording the Cotton Club Soundtrack, Part Two
See, Part 1 A Real New York Story We had been recording double sessions, often earning overtime to complete more difficult or complicated arrangements. We
Miss Dixie: A Gay Icon’s Almost-Forgotten Music Career
When Yvonne Marther Fasnacht died—on Sunday, 13 November 2011, aged 101—Variety.com carried her obituary. The top entertainment website remembered a pioneering nightclub owner who helped
Hal Smith and Kevin Dorn: Let’s Talk Great Drummers
Following the publication of “Nick Fatool – the Perfect Jazz Percussionist” (Syncopated Times, Nov. 2019), I have been carrying on a dialogue with Kevin Dorn—a
Charlie Bertini Creates ‘All Warmed Up’ Gear for Idle Trumpeters
With public gatherings (including concerts and festivals) banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, live music has faded into a mere memory. Orlando, Florida, jazzman Charlie
Peacherine Ragtime Orchestra launches Stage and Screen Spectacular Fundraiser
The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra is celebrating our tenth anniversary season this year. The twelve-piece ensemble, formed while I was a freshman at the University of
‘Twisted’ lyricist, vocalese pioneer Annie Ross is ailing
Update: Annie Ross Died on July 21st, 2020. As vocalese pioneer Annie Ross approaches her 90th birthday on July 25, she finds herself in need
Emily Asher: Keeping it Positive
This summer, trombonist/singer/composer Emily Asher had planned on touring with her band Garden Party, in support of the group’s newest album If I Were a
Steve Pistorius: Standard Bearer of New Orleans Jazz
Pianist Steve Pistorius has honored the New Orleans Jazz tradition since the 1970s as a piano soloist, sideman, bandleader, and educator. Hal Smith: What was
Laura Windley: Accidental Jazz Star
Global pandemics aside, the Mint Julep Jazz Band is enjoying great demand. With band members featured at North Carolina’s Lindy Focus—one of the planet’s biggest
Texas Shout #43 Downtown New Orleans Style Dixieland
Downtown New Orleans, you see, offers a significant proportion of something for everyone. If you like virtuoso soloing, you have Armstrong, Noone, Bechet, and Morton;
Texas Shout #61 Johnny One Note
Set forth below is the sixty-first “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the May 1995 issue of the West Coast Rag). The text has
Texas Shout #34 West Coast Revival Style Dixieland Part 1
Set forth below is the thirty-fourth “Texas Shout” column. The initial installment of a two-part essay, it first appeared in the November 1992 issue of
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
Greg Poppleton • Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2
Lizzy and the Triggermen • Good Songs for Bad Times
Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys • Cool It If You Can
James Reese Europe’s 369th Infantry Hell Fighters Band • The Complete Recordings
Doro Wat • Meet Us At The Lost Love Lounge
Les Brown • Meanwhile Back On The Bus
The St. Louis Steady Grinders
The Rebecca Kilgore Trio • Just Imagine: Classic Jazz at Classic Pianos
Glenn Jenks • The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano
Reel Jazz! Kevin Whitehead Dissects 93 Years of Jazz Films
Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs
You Gotta See Your Mama Every Night: Pat Yankee’s Eight Decades in Show Business
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
Bud Freeman: Profile in Jazz
The tenor-saxophone took a little while to be accepted in jazz. Unlike the alto-sax and C-melody which were considered lead instruments, the tenor did not
Wilbur DeParis: Profiles in Jazz
In the 1950s, trombonist Wilbur DeParis led his New New Orleans Jazz Band, one of the most exciting groups of the era. Accomplishing his stated
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.”
Jazz Festing in Place
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s 50th anniversary celebration was cancelled for the weekends of April 23-26 and April 30-May 3. The local radio
Quarantine Reads: Books about New Orleans
Since all of the April festivals have been cancelled, it is a good time to delve into the many available books about New Orleans. The
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
From the 2020 Fresno Sounds of Mardi Gras
On the second weekend in February the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Fresno was filled with the “Sounds of Mardi Gras.” All four venues are located
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
What We Don’t Know About Justin Ring
When researching, oftentimes what we don’t know about someone can be more interesting than what we do know. In this situation, it can allow our
Fred Hager and ‘Handsome Harry’
This month’s article in this column will step away from the usual type of research done here; this month we will explore a bit of
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
Give a gig this Christmas
This year I saw a covert “holiday” laced commercial in August. The commercial might have been about hemorrhoid cream. I really don’t remember. I do
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,
Frank “Big Boy” Goudie, Pt. 1 of 3, Paris 1924-1939
The path of Creole multi-instrumentalist Frank “Big Boy” Goudie (b. 1899 Lafayette, LA 1899 – d. 1964 San Francisco, CA) parallels the history of Jazz
Farewell to Bob Mielke: Photo Essay and Rare Audio
This lively tribute to Mielke offers three dozen exclusive photos and music tracks from his personal collection. Included in this profile of an innovative bandleader
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,
Your Own Jazz Club at Home
Okay folks, we’re hitting three months of lockdown. And it seems like there’ll be no live music for some time now, at least not here
How to Survive Quarantine
Here we are folks—for most of us, it’s just another day in self-quarantine. How long has it been already? A month, a week, two years?
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
Brandon Byrne’s Ragtime Composers’ Corner
Several years ago, I met a remarkable young man at the Sedalia Ragtime Festival named Brandon Byrne. Later, I discovered an on-line newsletter he produces
Thinking Positive
Like many reading this, I suspect you are nearly overwhelmed by the negativism accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a pessimistic time and for many
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
‘Twisted’ lyricist, vocalese pioneer Annie Ross has Died
Annabelle Allan Short, known professionally as Annie Ross, died on July 21 in New York City, four days ahead of her 90th Birthday. She was
Dixieland Dykes +3 Founder Lisa Canjura-Clayton has died.
Lisa Canjura-Clayton passed away on May 31st, she was 57. She was a prominent member of the San Francisco area LGBT community. At every stage
