What are the most exciting and essential classic jazz recordings that have taken place since the end of World War II? An impossible question to answer but I accepted the challenge to put together a list that everyone can argue about. This five-part series, of which this is the final
There are songs that have entered the jazz vocabulary and never left: “Body and Soul,” “Stardust,” “Autumn Leaves,” and many others. We call these tunes “standards.” But there is no tune quite as standard as “Sweet Georgia Brown,” written 100 years ago, in 1925, by Ben Bernie and African-American composer
Will H. Dixon was born August 29, 1879, in Wheeling, West Virginia, into a musically inclined African American family. His father, John H. Dixon, was a barber and musician, playing second alto in an all-Black brass band, which likely influenced Dixon’s early interest in music. His mother, Mary Putnam, came
It all began last December. Down and beyond the bustling streets of South Korea I roamed. In all aspects of auditory senses, the atmosphere was most vibrant and lively, yet melancholy. Everything there seemed to own its melody. The doors sang welcomingly; the automated fridge chimed; a little vehicle backing
If, like me, you love many styles of jazz, you probably look at ads for various jazz cruises and start planning or wishing. I’ve experienced six, run by Signature Cruise Company and called The Jazz Cruise. It claims to be “Straight-Ahead Jazz Heaven,” and I agree. The ship holds about
As I hinted last month, there is a cadenza to my time at the Bix Beiderbecke festival. On my way to Rhinelander, WI, where I spent the rest of August—anything to escape Lancaster’s summer heat and humidity—I went via Chicago to catch the Cellar Boys at the second of their
Jeff Barnhart: Gentle reader, last month Hal Smith and I had such fun listening to, discussing, and sharing with you some music recorded by the legendary New Orleans trombonist and pioneer of the “tailgate” style, Edward “Kid” Ory, we are continuing down that musical path this month. In fact, Hal, you mentioned
How many concerts could you stand in one afternoon? Before August I’d have said two, perhaps three; that four would have my backside numb and five would see my mind wandering. Well, apparently I would have been wrong, and I can actually manage six: that’s how many sets the Pershore
I’m writing this edition while sitting at Chicago O’Hare, having arrived from Hartford CT an hour late, causing me to miss my connecting flight to Missoula, MT, from where I’ll drive 90 minutes tomorrow to play a solo piano concert of ragtime, early jazz and the blues. None of this
For the 100th article in my series of Jazz Profiles, this is the first time that a non-musician is the subject. John Hammond is considered by many to be the most important non musician in jazz history. As a talent scout who discovered quite a few notables, a record producer,
There was a time when the saxophone was a very obscure, regional instrument. The instrument only became one of the most utilized at the beginning of jazz in the mid-1910s. Although this was generally the case, it was played more often than most would think in bands and orchestras before
Labor Day weekend brought us to Sacramento for the Hot Jazz Jubilee and its 10th annual event. It was fantastic and with four separate venues during the day and extra sessions in the lounge from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, there were a lot of opportunities to see your favorite
For some inexplicable reason, a few readers have expressed that they miss my words in this space. I frankly needed a break from myself because I was sick of my own thoughts and even of facing what passes for reality at the moment. The problem is that I can’t write
REDWOOD COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (Eureka, CA) Oct. 2-5 This year’s festival, which takes place in Eureka, California, boasts seven venues: Hagadone Stage at Eureka Municipal Auditorium, Chevron & George Petersen Insurance Stage at The Adorni Center, Pierson Building Center Stage at The Sequoia Center, The Eagle House Stage at The
Charles Leslie Johnson’s Golden Spider Rag (1910) is a simple, straightforward piece. The opening chords of the introduction would later be expanded into the A theme of Johnson’s foxtrot Teasing the Cat (1916). The piece’s A section is reminiscent of that of Dill Pickles (1906). The octave-heavy B section and
Adelaide Louise Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 20, 1901. Adelaide and her sister Evelyn attended the Pratt Institute, where her father taught piano. Hall began her stage career in 1921 on Broadway in the chorus line of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake’s musical Shuffle Along. She
The Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Society is thrilled to announce the 2nd Jazz Jubilee Central Coast 2025, a vibrant celebration of jazz music stretching from San Luis Obispo County to Santa Barbara County. This year’s festival will take place from October 17th to October 26th, 2025, featuring a mix
In his just-published book, The Jazz Barn: Music Inn, The Berkshires, and the Place of Jazz in American Life, author John Gennari makes a compelling case as to what transpired at the Music Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts in the 1950s had a significant impact on how jazz was performed, heard
Pete Lay, drummer, bandleader, promoter, and longtime editor of Just Jazz magazine, died September 7, 2025 at age 78. A central figure in Britain’s traditional-jazz community, Lay led Pete Lay’s Gambit Jazzmen, a Surrey-based New Orleans style outfit that played clubs and festivals across the UK and on the continent.
Rick MacWilliams passed away on September 12th after a long illness; he was 81. While he wore many hats, including mechanical engineer, licensed councilor, volunteer for environmental causes, and pilot, Rick’s longest career and first love was music. As a tuba player, he played in countless Jazz bands, banjo groups,
After delighting audiences across the globe for nearly half a century, the legendary Royal Society Jazz Orchestra has announced its retirement at the end of 2025. A cherished fixture of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene, the orchestra has been hailed as one of the world’s foremost ensembles dedicated
In the 1960s and ’70s, it was very rare for any African-Americans, other than survivors from the early days, to be playing Dixieland and pre-swing Classic Jazz. For a variety of reasons, they did not feel welcome in the generally conservative atmosphere even though their ancestors were often the ones
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH In 1950, Duke Ellington’s son Mercer and journalist Leonard Feather founded the Mercer label. The small company lasted for less than two years but recorded a variety of interesting and sometimes intriguing sessions. Since Duke Ellington was signed to the Columbia label during the time,
John Petters is a veteran British jazz drummer who has appeared on quite a few hot trad jazz sessions starting in 1977. Self-taught, he has swung many dates, preferring to play classic jazz. He considers himself very fortunate to have caught the tail-end of an era and to have played
Omer Simeon (1902-59) was one of the top jazz clarinetists to emerge during the 1920s yet he is overshadowed in the history books by such contemporaries as Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds, Jimmie Noone, and Benny Goodman. The main reason is that the soft-spoken Simeon only led two songs on record
Back in 1976, the British clarinetist and soprano-saxophonist Pete Allen left his day job to join Rod Mason’s group. By the fall of 1978, Allen had formed his own band and he kept quite busy for many decades. Allen stuck throughout his career to the swinging Dixieland and swing that
When we’ve covered Glenn Crytzer over the years it has usually been to focus on his original material and his full orchestra, but if you’re a Glenn fan living in or visiting NYC, you’re more likely to find him at one of his many regular quintet, quartet, and trio gigs
As I write this, it’s September 2. The weather in southwest England is mostly still good, with mid-afternoon temperatures regularly approaching 25℃. But meteorologically speaking, we’re now officially in autumn so—as far as my wife is concerned—it’s spooky season. Krissy wants hygge, hot chocolate, Hallowe’en décor, and Hannah Gill, who
Lizzy & the Triggermen have always blended vintage swagger with contemporary stagecraft, and their new Live at Joe’s Pub set captures the band landing that balance with far more ease than most studio projects ever do. It’s a live show that sounds like an album: tight charts, impeccable audio, no
When I’m reviewing a record, I’ll often comment on how professional the production sounds. It’s always noted as a positive—from a quick word search of past articles, I’ve never once used the words “too slick” or “too polished.” I’ve even commented, once or twice, on how a band’s stylistic choice
Vol.10, No.10, October 2025
Andy Stein: Renaissance, Rock, Schubert, and the Nighthawks, by Hal Glatzer
A Century of “Sweet Georgia Brown”, by Steve Provizer
Will H. Dixon: An Unsung American Original, by Lawrence Levens
Elusive Syncopations: In Search of Jazz in Korea, by Clorinda Nickols
Musicians on their Jazz Cruise Experiences, by Schaen Fox
100 Hottest Classic Jazz Albums, Pt. 5: 1995-2025, by Scott Yanow
Pershore Jazz on a Summer’s Day: 2025 Edition, by Dave Doyle
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Adelaide Hall, illustration by Sara Lièvre
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Ain’t Cha Got Music: Ory with D. Howard, by J. Barnhart & H. Smith
Ragtime Vignettes: Golden Spider Rag, by Brandon Byrne
Quarter Notes: JubileeIt Was a Jubilee!, by Shelly Gallichio
The Early History of the Saxophone on Record, by R.S. Baker
Profiles in Jazz: John Hammond, by Scott Yanow
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Travels: Louis Haunts and Cellar Boys, by Bill Hoffman
My Inspirations: Are Musicians Human?, by Jeff Barnhart
Jazz Jottings: Jazz Education & The Jazz Barn, by Lew Shaw
RSJO Bids Farewell After Five Decades of Great Music, by Craig Roberts
Festival Roundup, compiled by Michael Buonaiuto; art by Joe Busam
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD reviews by Joe Bebco
Doyle’s Discs, CD reviews by Dave Doyle