A “soft opening” of the Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archive Collection in Davenport, Iowa for patrons and donors is scheduled for July 21, to be
Pat Yankee led her own big band, tap-danced on stage with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, was Maurice Chevalier’s first choice for an opening act on Broadway,
Much has been written about Ralph Grugel and the Grugelfest event that honors his contribution to traditional jazz. One of Ralph’s greatest fans was John
In an era of ever-changing musical styles and tastes, it’s truly amazing that The Four Freshmen have been harmonizing, recording and touring for 69 years,
February 26, 2017 is widely, though not universally, recognized as the 100th anniversary of the first recorded jazz. The day was commemorated with many concerts
When we all come to that moment of truth when we have to dispose of our cherished record collections, the question arises: What is the
How’d you like to watch an up-close-and-personal conversation with the late clarinetist Kenny Davern or the pianist Marian McPartland? How about listening to Bucky Pizzarelli
eBay once sold me such glories— I placed my bids without care; My house has only three stories And I need to sit down somewhere:
April Fool’s Day came early this year for some of us in the Northeast when every indication of an early Spring was muffled under what
On February 26, 2017, the hundredth anniversary of the epochal Victor recording session by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, the Original Cornell Syncopators recreated those
One thing that sets the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival apart from other festivals is the presentation of educational sets. The quality of bands is so
The Musical Instrument Museum, which is rated Phoenix’s top attraction, is featuring an exhibit of inlaid guitars, which will be on display for the next
HORACE PARLAN, 86, on Feb. 23 in Korsor, Denmark. A jazz pianist who was unable to use the middle two fingers of his right hand
There persists a somewhat stereotyped image of The Editor, bolstered by media archetypes Perry White (Superman) and Walter Burns (The Front Page): a cigar-chomping, coffee-swilling
This is The Festival Roundup as printed in our April 2017 issue, the most recent Roundup can be found under “Events” in our menu. REDWOOD
While blowing off the dust this morning, an old newspaper clipping fell out of a scrapbook and it took me back to Sedalia, Missouri in
She Could Swing When confronted with the recordings and performances of Ella Fitzgerald, several questions come to mind. Could anyone outswing her? Was anyone a
During the first years of the swing era, freewheeling jazz of the 1920s was considered out of vogue and old fashioned despite being less than
While waiting expectantly for the upcoming release of Richard Dowling’s multi-disc set of the Complete Scott Joplin (which will be put out by Rivermont), it
In the fall of 1957, an all-star group filled mostly with Louis Armstrong alumni toured England. Co-led by trombonist Jack Teagarden and pianist Earl Hines,
Anders Bergcrantz is a prize-winning Swedish trumpeter/composer. He has just released this recording of seven compositions, six of which are his originals and the seventh is composition
Here’s a professionally performed CD—just vocal and piano with fifteen tunes by Gershwin, Ellington, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and others. What makes it special is the pairing
Imagine being able to find within seconds all of the information that exists about the music on a particular 78, LP, or CD that you own. A good discography has all of the relevant
Late last year, Gordon Au—trumpeter, arranger, composer, bandleader, writer, thinker, scientist, satirist, linguist—sent me the digital files for the second CD by the Grand Street Stompers, Do the New York, and I wrote back
When Benny Goodman’s sextet played, they could make almost anyone’s heart beat a little faster. He was able to sustain an excitement with the innovation, precision, and top quality swing musicians playing great tunes,
UPDATE: This is an archive story, for the current weekly gig check GlennCrytzer.com. The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra has a new weekly Monday gig at Kola House, in the heart of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Kola
This is the third novel in the jazz series for juveniles. The
While Ragged but Right relives the dusty days of tented minstrelsy, Lift
Ragged but Right musicologists Lynn Abbott and Doug Seroff carry readers on
DAVE VALENTIN, 64, on March 8 in New York City from a 2012 stroke and subsequent cardiovascular events. A flutist who released more than 20
CHUCK BERRY, 90, on March 18 at his home in Wentzville, Missouri. A guitarist, singer and songwriter, he is considered “the Father of Rock and
JIM CZAK died on March 15, he was 71. Co-owner and the chief mixer at Nola Recording Studio in New York City. Having recorded a
HORACE PARLAN, 86, on Feb. 23 in Korsor, Denmark. A jazz pianist who was unable to use the middle two fingers of his right hand
Jazz Blooms at NYC’s Easter Parade, by Stephanie Robinson
The Four Freshmen: Always in Harmony, by Lew Shaw
Vinyl Record Dude Keeps Old Discs Circulating, by Lew Shaw
Pat Yankee: Nine Decades on Stage, by Randi Cee
Grugel and Gibbons, by Dean Norman
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Ella Fitzgerald, illustration by Gary Price
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Lew Shaw
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
Blowing off the Dust: Clyde McCoy brings the Sugar Blues, by Larry Melton
Festival Roundup, compiled by Russ Tarby
Jazz Travels: The Original Cornell Syncopators Mark 100 Years of Jazz, by Bill Hoffman
Ella Turns, by Scott Yanow
The Professor is IN: Jam Session Etiquette, by Adrian Cunningham
The Syncopated Bookshelf, reviews by Russ Tarby and F. Norman Vickers
Ragged but Right: Black Traveling Shows, ‘Coon Songs,’ and the Dark Pathway to Blues and Jazz
Lift Every Voice: The History of African American Music by Burton W. Peretti
The Grand St. Stompers: Do the New York, band profile by Michael Steinman
Nights at the Turntable, album reviews Scott Yanow
The Grand Slam Sextet, concert review by Harvey Barkan
CD Reviews by F. Norman Vickers
Rebecca Kilgore and Bernd Lhotzky: This and That
Anders Bergcrantz: Soulfully Yours
100 Years of Jazz at Cornell, by Andy Senior
AZ Classic Jazz Fest Detailed Lineup, press release
Fillius Jazz Archive is Now Available Online, by Russ Tarby
Bix Museum Opening in July, by Lew Shaw
Glenn Crytzer Orchestra at Kola House April 10, by Andy Senior
“Among My Auctioneers” (song parody), by Andy Senior
Can You Dig It?, by Andy Senior