Hal Smith’s Swing Central: Windy City Swing
Scott Yanow
September 1, 2017
Drummer Hal Smith has been one of the most valuable players in a countless number of settings through the years, from 1920s music and New
Drummer Hal Smith has been one of the most valuable players in a countless number of settings through the years, from 1920s music and New
Will Perkins, 23 at the time of recording Snowy Morning Blues, is a talented ragtime and stride pianist from California. He has a relaxed style
Owing to the transmission over the internet of my radio program, RADIOLA!, I’ve found friends and listeners far outside my own bailiwick of upstate New
Fred Hersch, prolific composer, and pianist releases his newest solo CD and LP to coincide with his memoir Good Things Happen Slowly. The release date
This independently produced CD features tenor saxophonist Woody Witt collaborating with pianist Larry Ham’s trio. Rounding out the group are bassist Lee Hudson and drummer
Australian jazz musician Adrian Cunningham fronts a prestigious quartet which includes pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist John Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. Cunningham is now based
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John Pizzarelli is an outstanding 7-string guitarist/vocalist from a musical family. Coming up in the tradition of his father Bucky who is still performing at
Bix is a unique two-CD tribute to Bix Beiderbecke. The first CD is fourteen tracks of music associated with Bix Beiderbecke. It is performed by
When Banu Gibson formed her New Orleans Hot Jazz group on April 1, 1981 and began gigging with the sextet in the Crescent City, she
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The British JSP label’s four-CD set –Head Rag Hop Piano Blues 1925-1960 is overflowing with classic performances. Compiled by Neil Slaven who also wrote the liner
Louis Armstrong amassed a large collection of tapes in his lifetime which are now stored at the Louis Armstrong House Museum. While some of the
Clarinetist George Lewis, who would become one of the most popular of New Orleans jazzmen in the 1950s when he toured the world, was a
Those familiar with my previous reviews of pianist Rossano Sportiello’s CDs already know that I’m among the converted. He’s a classically trained Italian pianist who
Bill Cunliffe is a prolific pianist, composer, and conductor. I am already among the converted, so was excited to see/hear Cunliffe’s newest effort. On most
What fun! Imagine a four-day leisurely jam session with great musicians and no repeat takes! Senior vibraphonist Terry Gibbs had “retired” some months previously. Neal
The back-story about the production of this CD is as fascinating as the music. Most people reading this, I hope, will recognize the name of
Few today probably know about Teddy Grace’s excellent recordings of the 1930s even though she was one of the finest jazz and blues singers of
This year, 2017, is the centennial year for the first jazz recording, Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s Original Dixieland Jazz One Step and Livery Stable Blues,
What do Knocky Parker, Richard Zimmerman, Dick Hyman, John Arpin, Richard Dowling and William Appling have in common? Somewhere in their careers, all six pianists
Bunny Berigan (1908-42) was one of the greatest trumpeters of all time. Whether hitting high notes or exploring the lower register of his horn, he
