Notes From A Jazz Life, Volume 3 is the third twofer that draws its material from trumpeter-cornetist Digby Fairweather’s earlier records. While one would expect
I’m always in two minds about whether to call a jazz tune a “banger.” On the one hand, I’d like to think I’m a bona
British pianist Ray Smith has worked and recorded with Ken Colyer (1968-81), cornetist Steve Lane, the London Ragtime Orchestra, cornetist Rod Mason, Bent Persson, and
The teaming up of New Orleans clarinetist George Lewis and England’s Ken Colyer always made perfect sense. Colyer (1928-88), who was always a proponent of
Tex Beneke (1914-2000) certainly had an odd career. One of the main stars of the Glenn Miller Orchestra during 1938-42 where his good-natured singing and
There are many albums released each year by small and not so small labels featuring a talented female vocalist covering songbook standards. The promotors sending
Last month I reviewed My Window Faces The South, a charming album of Western Swing and trad jazz from Sweet Megg, who has been recently
In the past, Jonathan Doyle has lent his always aggressive tenor sax and clarinet playing to the traditional and classic jazz bands Tuba Skinny and
Tony Kieraldo is a pianist for Postmodern Jukebox, an outfit known for reimaging current pop songs as jazz age hits on YouTube. Since growing large
The High Standards’ latest release is a four-track EP called My Josephine, which isn’t much music to review. Fortunately the band completed a full-length, self-titled
Clarinetist Pee Wee Russell (1906-69) and tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins (1904-69), despite being active during the same decades, rarely crossed paths in the studios. On Nov.
Strange as it seems, Louis Armstrong never recorded a Christmas album. Xmas records have become so common since the 1970s but they were rarer before
Recently I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a British jazz fan. I’d heard a lot about the drive for authenticity, which seems
Greg Ruby is one of the most notable guitarists in traditional jazz right now. His albums are often much more than albums, full on projects
Christmas songs have always had chord changes that appeal to trad jazz and swing players (probably because many were written prior to 1950) and serve
While Benny Goodman recorded an enormous amount of music in his career, particularly if one includes radio broadcasts, transcriptions and live concerts, it is fairly
On this third volume of Once More from the Beginning! by the Red Beans ‘n’ Rice Jazz Band, only three members play on all 29
June Richmond (1919-62) is best remembered (if she is remembered at all) for being the first African-American singer to be part of a white big
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH Al Hirt (1922-99) was one of the most popular of all New Orleans trumpeters. Blessed with phenomenal technique, he sometimes
Russ Wilson and the Wrong Crowd is an excellent new swing band with a collection of great names from roughly speaking the Mid Atlantic. I
Guitarist Leo Forde has been living and working in New Orleans since 2014 but, I was pleased to discover, he’s one of ours—a Brit (although,
Sweet Megg has been living a double life, singing for jazz bands in New York City and exploring classic country and early rock ‘n roll
Most of the pro jazz musicians I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing have majored in music at college. This seems like a smart move: if
It’s Chicago in 1927. Trombonist Roy Palmer and musicians inspired by Louis Armstrong (perhaps Bob Shoffner), Johnny Dodds, and Jelly Roll Morton are joined by
