Jon-Erik Kellso: A Motor City Jazz Master in NYC
Steve Provizer
March 12, 2026, marks the centenary of opening night at the palatial, opulent Savoy Ballroom, which occupied an entire block of Lenox Avenue between 140th and 141st Streets in Harlem. In its thirty-two years, 1926-1958, the Savoy would be the site of band battles and dance contests, where the Lindy
The recent production of Scott Joplin’s opera Treemonisha took place at the Lisner Auditorium on the campus of George Washington University in Washington D.C. on March 7, 8 and 15, 2026. It was historic in its presentation for a number of reasons: one being that it was the first production
This is the tale of two musicians from Connecticut who deeply influenced me, though in markedly different ways, as I was learning how to play traditional jazz piano. Over time I was honored to call them friends. At ten years old, I met pianist Bill Sinclair and cornetist Fred Vigorito
Glenn Miller’s legacy continues to spark debate among historians and musicians alike. His orchestra’s polished sound captivated wartime audiences, yet not everyone viewed it fondly. Saxophonist Al Klink, who had played under Miller, once remarked after the bandleader’s disappearance over the English Channel, “We were all too scared to swing:
Alexander Van Vliet Feldman was born in 1915 and he lived until 2015, mostly using the name Van Alexander. He had a long and successful musical career, mostly in Hollywood, but he was best known for co-writing “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” with Ella Fitzgerald while both worked in the Chick Webb Orchestra
In 1911, Justin Ring found himself in court for divorce. It was a rather nasty case, and the reasons for it were different than I had expected. For once in his life, Fred Hager was nowhere to be found. This story nearly completes the life story of Justin Ring, and
This is the tale of two musicians from Connecticut who deeply influenced me, though in markedly different ways, as I was learning how to play traditional jazz piano. Over time I was honored to call them friends. At ten years old, I met pianist Bill Sinclair and cornetist Fred Vigorito
JAZZAFFAIR (Three Rivers, CA) April 9-12 Jazzaffair 2026, hosted by the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club, takes place at three venues in Three Rivers: the Lions Club Arena, the Memorial Building, and St. Anthony’s Retreat. Bands will include Ragabond Seven, Blue Street Jazz Band, Dave Bennett Quartet, The Memphis Speed Kings,
My latest visit to the extensive collection of piano rags found on www.ragtimepiano.ca has yielded another little-known gem from the Original Ragtime Era: Percy Wenrich’s delightful Sweetmeats (1907). The piece’s A section never strays from I and V7 chords and has a simplistic charm. The non-syncopated, song-like B section reminds
Syncopation appears to me to be basis or the trigger of some sort of reflex, at best, or a nervous disorder at worst. It is characterized by an involuntary movement of the limbs which is most unseemly, especially when on display in a public venue for strangers to see and
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was born Gertrude Pridgett on April 26, 1886 (some sources say 1882). Pridgett began her career as a performer at a talent show in Columbus, Georgia, when she was a young teenager. A member of the First African Baptist Church, she began performing in black minstrel shows.
I spent Presidents’ Week in New York working at the annual New York Hot Jazz Camp. I have missed only one year in the Camp’s 11-year history. The timing has moved from April to February to take advantage of lower hotel rates for the campers. There is also the issue
What a fun weekend celebrating the 38th anniversary of the iconic San Diego Jazz Party where 19 artists descend on the Hilton Del Mar to make lots of wonderful music! Friday, February 20th, began with the selected music students fromMission Bay High School breaking off into a half dozen areas/rooms
An excellent jazz singer based in Chicago ever since he moved there from his native Buffalo in 2003, Paul Marinaro has excellent elocution (one can always understand the words he sings), an appealing tone in his voice, and always swings. Mood Ellington is at least his fifth album as a
The Upbeat label from England has compiled many rewarding CDs through the years. Their “Great Jazz” series previously released Various Artists sets CDs titled Great Clarinetists, Great Drummers, The Great Ladies of Jazz and Swing, and two of Great Trumpets. The most recent compilation is one of their most fun:
Pianist Sue Palmer has led her Motel Swing Orchestra for 25 years. Remarkably the personnel has remained the same for all of this time (trombonist April West, Jonny Viau on tenor and baritone, guitarist Steve Wilcox, bassist Pete Harrison, and drummer Sharon Shufelt) except for their lead vocalist Liz Ajuzie
Django Reinhardt (1910-53) was one of jazz’s most original and brilliant guitarists, certainly the top guitarist to emerge during the 1930s. But despite that, at the time of his death at the age of 43, he had relatively few followers. Charlie Christian was the dominant influence on jazz guitarists of
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH Thomas Morris was a casualty of the rapid evolution that jazz underwent during the 1920s. The cornetist fit very securely in the mainstream of jazz in 1923 but by 1927 his playing was considered primitive and hopelessly outdated. While he was in the backup band
The first batch of V-Discs shipped to military fighters overseas on Oct. 1, 1943. Less than two years later, we won the war. Many other elements contributed to this victory, of course, but let’s not short-change the power those records must have had. Mosaic Records celebrated this unique catalogue category
With the passing of Fred Vigorito this March, following closely after Bill Sinclair in February and Noel Kaletsky, Joel Schiavone, and Bob Bequillard in recent years, it is unclear where the Galvanized Jazz Band goes from here. Fred led the band for fifty-five years! Over the last decade, he sent
For a few decades during the last century, when classical music was a familiar part of the musical landscape, many jazz bands borrowed tunes with pleasing results. John Kirby’s sextet recorded several such examples (his Schubert Serenade is a knockout), and Freddy Martin set lyrics to those strains. Harry James
We all know that the traditional lineup for New Orleans-style classic jazz entails a trumpet, reed, trombone and tuba. Piano and drums may even seem extraneous. The aptly named Little Jazz Trio features a steady bassist, Bob Lyna; a hot rhythm guitarist, Harvey Nusbaum; and a golden-toned brassman, Ray Sturge.
When most jazz fans think of James P. Johnson (1894-1955), it is of a brilliant and pioneering stride pianist who also wrote some notable songs. While that is certainly true, Scott E. Brown’s very definitive book on Johnson, Speakeasies to Symphonies, shows in great detail that there was much more
– Kind Words from the Board – Dear Andy and Syncopated Times (one and the same), My hearty congratulations on ten unqualified successful years! Your statement, “I haven’t the faintest idea of what I’m doing” is in the same category as Lester Young’s improvisations, not based on jazz theory but
The Basin Street Regulars, Inc. By-Laws state: “….the Corporation is organized and operated for: a. Preserving and promoting traditional jazz. b. Providing a common meeting ground where traditional jazz musicians can play their music to interested audiences. c. Providing liaison between jazz musicians, jazz societies and the listening public. d.
In 2026 the New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp will celebrate its 16th anniversary. According to NOTJC Executive Director Banu Gibson, 1217 students from around the world have received lessons on how to play classic jazz from a distinguished faculty that has included Dan Levinson, Charlie Halloran, Katie Cavera, David Boeddinghaus,
Kerry Price, longtime resident of Royal Oak, MI, age 86, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on March 2, 2026. Born on March 6, 1939, to William “Bill” and Anna Blye Price (née Blakey), Kerry was a lifelong lover of, teacher of, and performer of music. Kerry graduated
Floye “Flo” Dreyer, a trumpeter whose career stretched from the all-female swing bands of the 1940s to community ensembles in South Florida late in life, died March 2. She was 98. Born August 1, 1927, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dreyer left home at 14 to pursue music professionally. By fifteen she
Bill Sinclair, longtime pianist with Connecticut’s Galvanized Jazz Band and a devoted interpreter of New Orleans-style jazz, died February 21. Sinclair spent decades performing traditional jazz in the Northeast and beyond, becoming an integral part of a band that has been one of the region’s most visible traditional jazz ensembles
Fred Vigorito, cornetist and leader of Connecticut’s Galvanized Jazz Band, died March 10th. Over a professional career that spanned sixty years, he became one of the most recognizable figures in the New England traditional jazz revival. Vigorito began playing professionally in 1965 with Big Bill Bissonnette’s Easy Riders Jazz Band.
Table of Contents
Vol. 11, No. 4, April 2026
Jon-Erik Kellso: A Motor City Jazz Master in NYC, by Steve Provizer
From Harlem to Hollywood: Van Alexander’s Career, by Schaen Fox
The Most Inclusive Club in Harlem: The Savoy, by Jonathan Ezra Goldman
The Miller Effect: How One Bandleader Shaped Music, by Sean J. Kennedy
Readers’ Letters
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Gertrude Ma Rainey, illustration by Sara Lièvre
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Travels: NY Hot Jazz Camp, by Bill Hoffman
My Inspirations: When Connecticut Met New Orleans, by Jeff Barnhart
Ragtime Vignettes: Sweetmeats, by Brandon Byrne
Quarter Notes: California Dreamin’ at the SDJP, by Shelly Gallichio
“Notorious Adultery”: The Divorce of Justin Ring, by R.S. Baker
Profiles in Jazz: Ken Peplowski, by Scott Yanow
Jazz Jottings: Attendance at Monterey Up 25%, by Lew Shaw
Festival Roundup, compiled by Michael Buonaiuto, art by Joe Busam
Kerry Price, Detroit-Area Blues Legend, Dies at 86, by Sally Bolle
Ellisons Make Takeover Bid for TST, Editorial Changes Planned
Book Review: Speakeasies to Symphonies by Scott Brown, by Scott Yanow
WNO Production of Treemonisha “Triumphant”, by Aaron Robinson
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD review by Joe Bebco
Classic V-Disc Big Band Sessions, review by B.A. Nilsson
Jazzing the Classics: “A Good Tune is a Good Tune”, by B.A. Nilsson