An interview with Ted Gioia on Music: A Subversive History
This fall Syncopated Times reporter Steve Provizer met with Ted Gioia, author of many important jazz histories, to discuss his latest project Music: A Subversive
Fig & Fox: A Remembrance of Nat Morison, Patriarch of Welbourne
Nat Morison – patriarch, devotee of early New Orleans jazz, Mets fan, host of the annual Welbourne Cakewalk/Stoke Stomp, and treasured friend of many in
Graphic novelist Chris Ware discusses the leitmotif of Ragtime in his life and work
From The Ragtime Ephemeralist to Rusty Brown For some time now I have wanted to interview Chris Ware for The Syncopated Times. Over the years
NOLA Tubist Creates Jazz TV Show for Kids
Jim Syoen, of the Assunto Dukes, has a mission beyond merely playing jazz for seasoned fans. A few years ago he created Mister Tuba’s Funtime
Remembering Bob Wilber
Bob Wilber, one of the finest clarinet and soprano saxophone players, died on August 4th at age 91. Bob was a direct link to his
Ragtimer and ’60s Pop Idol Ian Whitcomb on the Mend
Listen in your mind with me for a moment and hear the joyful “strummings” and vocals of an Ian and Regina Whitcomb routine. Recall the
Jimmy Mazzy: The Soul of the Banjo
Early in his career, at places like Your Father’s Moustache and The Salty Banjo, Jimmy Mazzy carved out a place for himself on the bandstand
Greg Poppleton: A Very Modern Vintage Vocalist
Aussie swing singer Greg Poppleton is lauded by critics for his “authentic” vocal stylings. But the radio DJ and actor—whose screen credits include Moulin Rouge
Nick Fatool: The Perfect Jazz Percussionist
The great jazz pianist Jess Stacy told his biographer, Keith Keller: “Nick Fatool was always 100 per cent of what a good drummer should be.”
Five Hours of Christmas Jazz, Blues and Swing
Give a gig this Christmas
Keenan McKenzie A Bull City Holiday
Christmas After Midnight
Baby, It’s Colder Inside
Happy Christmas From TST
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 #60 Learning To Play, Part 3
Set forth below is the sixtieth “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a three-part essay, (Part 1, Part 2,) it first appeared in the
Texas Shout #59 Learning To Play, Part 2
Set forth below is the fifty-ninth “Texas Shout” column. The second installment of a three-part essay, it first appeared in the March 1995 issue of
From The Central Pennsylvania Ragtime & American Music Festival
The eleventh annual Central Pennsylvania Ragtime & American Music Festival took place on September 20-22 in Orbisonia and Mount Union. There was a slight change
An Important Message from Vince Giordano
What are you—yes YOU—doing to keep traditional jazz alive? That was the recurring theme of my recent conversation with Vince Giordano, leader of the Nighthawks,
From The 48th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival
The 48th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival occurred from July 31 through August 3 at the perennially over-air conditioned Rhythm City Casino in Davenport,
Joanna Morea – Crazy People
The Unheard Artie Shaw
Southside Aces: Santaphone
The Peanuts Gang Trio: Welcome In
George Lewis On Stage And At Newport
The Georgians 1922-1923
Kids and Christmas inspire two new Jazz at Lincoln Center Albums
Sol Yaged and Tino Valpa Your Wish Is My Command
Music: A Subversive History, by Ted Gioia
The Show Won’t Go On by Jeff Abraham and Burt Kearns
Superstride: A Biography and Discography of Johnny Guarnieri by Derek Coller
Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond
Nat King Cole: Profiles in Jazz
The Nat King Cole story is a tale of two major talents, both owned by the same person. Equally skilled as a jazz pianist and
Ethel Waters: Profiles in Jazz
During the 1921-25 period, it seemed as if every African-American female singer who could carry a tune was being rushed into a recording studio to
Eddie Lang: Profiles in Jazz
The finest jazz guitarist of his short lifetime, Eddie Lang was masterful as both a melodic soloist and a sophisticated accompanist, whether playing bluesy single-note
October Ramblings in the French Quarter
FRITZEL’S TURNS FIFTY! – 733 Bourbon – Fritzel’s celebrated its 50th anniversary on October 13th, as not only one of the oldest music clubs but
The Sazerac House Opens on Magazine St.
The grand opening of the Sazerac House at 101 Magazine (at Canal) took place Wednesday, October 2nd. This estimated $50 million project began as a
Bourbon Street: Once Upon a Time, There was a …
Our favorite hotel was previously named The Inn On Bourbon at 541 Bourbon and was the site of the famous multi-storied French Opera House, established
North Carolina Jazz Festival Plans 40th Annual Bash
On a cold winter’s night in Chicago, 1979, Dr. Harry Van Velsor, esteemed Wilmington, NC, dermatologist and jazz musician, stopped in a local bar for
Second Annual Jump, Jive & Jazz Scheduled in Oregon, March 2020
A second annual jazz and swing mini-festival has been announced by the popular “Live at the Shrine” dance committee. The event, titled Jump, Jive & Jazz,
10th Annual Eddie Lang Day in Philadelphia 10/27
Richard Barnes returns with his 12 pc 1920s-30s jazz band the Blackbird Society Orchestra to celebrate the 10th Annual Eddie Lang Day Philadelphia. The Tri State
Worth it to cross the pond for Whitley Bay? Absolutely!
If you’re reading The Syncopated Times, you’re no doubt familiar with the Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. Co-organizer Jonathan David Holmes and
Reflections on my first time at the Mike Durham Jazz Party at Whitley Bay
Most musicians can name milestone moments in their careers where they were introduced to something that changed their perspective on the art. One that stands
Trad Jazz Abounds at 2019 Jubilee by the Sea
Jazz Jubilee by the Sea, held October 24 to 27 on California’s Central Coast, presented a spectrum of early jazz and swing but spotlighted trad,
When Prince Ruled Columbia
Charles Prince is a domineering character in the world of record collecting. If you see a pile of early records, the chances are pretty good
James: The Other Hager Brother
In this column, I often speak of the studio pianists that were the driving force on thousands of records made from 1889 to 1925. Perhaps
Fred Hager tangles with Victor Herbert
In 1895, a twenty year old Fred W. Hager organized his military orchestra of 26 musicians. At that time, Hager was the youngest professional bandleader
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
Everybody Comes to Curley’s!
David Boeddinghaus, Banu Gibson, Tim Laughlin, Chloe Feoranzo, The entire Baker/Clancy family, Ralf and John Reynolds, Bob Ringwald, Dawn Lambeth, Chet Jaeger, and Pieter Meijers
Laurence Juber Rules the ‘Realm of the Tune’
My television was on, but I wasn’t watching—until the talent of Laurence Juber demanded my attention. His finger style guitar playing was stunning. My ears
Five Hours of Christmas Jazz, Blues and Swing
Welcoming Christmas in Jazz and Blues music is a tradition as old as the music itself. By the mid-1920s seasonal music was available on record,
The Infamous Burp Hollow, San Francisco Nightclub, 1956-66
“A seamy hole in the wall on Broadway — the booming entertainment strip of North Beach— this joint was near the bottom of the long
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra Live!
Live concerts, location recordings and broadcast transcriptions of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra from 1940 to 1963 reveal a distinctive body of work separate
Starting Your Own Jazz Club
Do you guys know that old joke: How do end up with a million dollars in the music business?… Start with 2 million and open
Things that jazz musicians are really afraid of
Halloween is once again upon us. Being from Australia and not celebrating this holiday as a youngster, I’ve found this to be a peculiar American
A Sincere Apology
Hi folks. I’ve been writing this regular column for a few years now, a pursuit that I’ve very much enjoyed. However, recently I received a
Dorothy Kitchen was Sedalia’s ‘Treemonisha’
I knew Treemonisha. Well, I should have written “a Treemonisha.” I certainly knew her as surely as if the fictional heroine of Scott Joplin’s opera
My Musical Family
My column requires a disclaimer this month because frankly, it amounts to little more than a grandfather bragging obnoxiously about his grandchildren. That written, I’ve
Joplin’s Landmark School
In my April 2018 column, I wrote of the accomplishments of the good people of Texarkana and the work they are doing to preserve their
Jack Phelan, New England Jazz and Ragtime Piano Player has Died
Dr. John V. Phelan, Jr. passed away on November 28th in Massachusetts, he was 95. He served in the Navy during WWII and reenlisted into
Roy Brewer, Jr. part of first Dixieland at Disneyland Concerts, has died.
Trombonist Roy Martin Brewer, Jr. passed away on September 28, 2019, he was 89. His father was a major figure in the Hollywood union movement
Canadian Cornetist Allan Kennedy Colter has died at 91
Cornetist Allan Kennedy Colter, of Guelph, Ontario passed away on July 20th, he was 91. He played with the Cameo Dixieland Jazz Band and other