Red Callender: A Very Quiet Giant
The late music writer and producer, Stanley Dance, shared the opinion, common in the East, that “Los Angeles was a wasteland dominated by the bad
Banu Gibson and Hal Smith Talk Great Vocalists
The wonderful vocalist Banu Gibson (“First Lady of the Bayou,” TST, September 2016) is a great friend and it is always a privilege to share
Brun Campbell: Notes on his Early Life and Unknown Pictures
Larry Karp (1939–2016), whose last completed project was his biography of Brun Campbell, based it on a critical discussion of Brun’s autobiographical statements. (Numbers in parentheses
We’ll Dance Again, Don’t Know Where, Don’t Know When…
Physical distancing is a sensible reaction to infectious disease; the cure for what ails our society. Yet, like cod liver oil or chemotherapy, taking this
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
Bennie Moten (1894-1935)
Pianist and bandleader, Bennie Moten (November 13, 1894 – April 2, 1935) helped to establish what is called the Kansas City Jazz style. In 1922
Terry Waldo Launches New “This is Ragtime” Podcast
Pianist and noted Ragtime authority Terry (Emerson) Waldo has been diligently at the ivories for over 50 years. Composing, concerting, barroom gigging, doing radio, musical
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
Ray Skjelbred: Living a Jazz Life, Chicago Style, Part 2
Pianist Ray Skjelbred is now in his 60th year as a professional jazzman. In this second of a two-part interview, he discusses the many people
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,
Texas Shouts #17 & #18 Favorite Musicians
Set forth below are the Seventeenth and Eighteenth “Texas Shout” columns. They first appeared in the May and June 1991 issues of the West Coast Rag,
Texas Shout #6 Hand-Held Live Tapes
A Note from the Editor: The past doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme and this column from 1990 is a stunning example of that.
Texas Shout #37 Ensemble Skills
Set forth below is the thirty-seventh “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the March 1993 issue of the West Coast Rag now the Syncopated Times).
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
A Summit In Paris
Art Tatum • The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces
Hot Club of Baltimore featuring Alexis Tantau
Charles A. Asbury • 4 Banjo Songs, 1891-1897 (7 Inch Vinyl)
Vintage Jazz Rarities 1924-1936
Guillaume Nouaux & the Stride Piano Kings
Chris Barber’s Jazz Band & Ottilie Patterson • The Allan Gilmour Tapes
Jon-Erik Kellso • Sweet Fruits Salty Roots
Heart Full of Rhythm: The Big Band Years of Louis Armstrong
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
Edmond Hall: Profiles in Jazz
Edmond Hall was one of a handful of jazz musicians who could be identified after one note. Playing on a famous filmed version of “St.
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
The Quiet Quarter
Live music venues are still not open in the French Quarter. Since May, the Jazz Museum on Esplanade is enjoying Tuesday afternoon “balcony concerts” outside
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 &
Mr. Handy’s Blues: From Preacher’s Son to Father of the Blues (DVD)
W.C. Handy lived the American Dream during the time that the nature of that dream crystallized around larger than life men like Thomas Edison and
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
Justin Ring’s Family Life
For many decades, Justin Ring has been an elusive character in the world of early recording and ragtime. Researcher Jim Walsh spoke of him only
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
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
The Trombone Eloquence of Bill Bardin, Part 1: Brushes with Greatness, 1940-65
Whether you love New Orleans tailgate trombone or sophisticated Swing, Bill Bardin (1924 – 2011) is your man for tasteful, expressive jazz trombone. He was second
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
Passing the Torch
Jazz is a unique tradition, one that continues to evolve from its humble New Orleans roots. This noble American art form is unique within Western
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
The Saga of Brun Campbell Challenged
When I get a message from Ed Berlin, it gets my immediate attention. Last month I received a most fascinating document Ed was passing along,
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,
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
