Singer-lyricist-bandleader-entertainer, Noble Sissle occupies an unusual place in the world of ragtime, jazz and show business. He was one of the best-known musicians of the
Ask a top swing dancer (or any swing dancer) what first brought them to the hobby, and most will reply: “the music.” Less often does
Fiddler Bobby Bruce lived one of the longest and most diverse professional music careers I’ve encountered, performing and arranging for seven decades in Vaudeville, Jazz,
Hal Smith: Last June, Kevin Dorn and I talked about some of the people who have influenced our own playing. That article received many positive
In our March issue, Dan Barrett recalled a gig with trumpeter George Orendorff and the story that George told about playing the trumpet break before
In 1991, I had been chasing the music of Joe “King” Oliver and Louis Armstrong for seven or eight years. By “chasing,” I mean I
As someone who has had a lifelong love affair with jazz, an interesting question came up in a ZOOM interview I recently had with Dan
“I’m going to miss this epidemic,” more than a few jocular Facebook and Instagram visitors are sentimentally waxing about the eventual end to the miraculous,
The Syncopated Times Radio Network, with the call letters of WSNY, is a new internet radio station founded by the editors of The Syncopated Times
Keith Nichols, RIP To the Editor: No number of words could capture the essence of Keith Nichols. It was our privilege to get to know
Here’s the post-Valentine’s Day wish of every jazz musician: Roses are Red, Violets are blue— We just want some gigs (And a festival or two).
If Kevin Keaton has his way, you’ll soon be able to pop into your grocer’s dairy case for a snack and some tunes. Keaton, the
He was a very popular singer and entertainer who, as “Ukulele Ike,” had major accomplishments in the 1920s, he appeared in many films in the
Jimmie Noone was born April 23, 1895, in Cut Off, Louisiana. Noone started playing clarinet after his family moved to New Orleans in 1910. By
Do not interpret an event not being on this list as a cancellation, it means only that they have yet to announce any information about
The way we listen to music has changed a lot in the last decade. And I, probably like many of you, have been absorbing music
There have been a number of books written about the legendary Buddy Bolden and the fact that no authentic recordings by him or his band
In the 19th century, novelties and curiosities were all the rage. We have all heard of the circus performers, snake oil salesmen, sideshow freaks—but there
The Orpheum Theater in New Orleans is celebrating its 100th birthday and re-introducing the new Double Dealer speakeasy under the theater. Resembling the backstage setting
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, we left off our discussion in Part One with a brief analysis of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and their way of
If anything can dispel the gloom of a negative historical anniversary, it is music. That seems to have been what motivated Dr. Michael J. Budds
I’ve been putting off writing this column until the last minute—almost until I am physically unable to write it. (That would be an excellent method
Sometimes one just has the need to hear riotous Dixieland, particularly the style of music where there are lots of notes played at rapid tempos
Hailey Brinnel is an up-and-coming singer and trombonist who has lots of potential. Originally from Philadelphia, she has worked with the Diva Jazz Orchestra, Anat
Has any jazz musician been emulated after their passing as much as Django Reinhardt? Ironically, when Django died in 1953, hardly any guitarist sounded like
There have been many tributes to Louis Armstrong through the years. Satchmocracy by the Jérome Etcheberry Popstet is one of the more unusual ones. When
Captain John Handy (1900-71) stood alone in the New Orleans revival movement. Virtually the only significant alto-saxophonist playing traditional jazz in the 1960s, Handy’s hard-charging
A recording star ever since she signed to the Capitol label in 1944, Peggy Lee was the epitome of the cool-toned singer, one who sang
Reedsman Evan Arntzen is ready to make a splash in the jazz world with his third release as leader, a gem of an album on
Scott Yanow reviewed the latest from the Singapore Slingers back in February but I’ve been enjoying this album so much I thought I’d give it
Tis Autumn is Marty Elkins’ fifth album. The first on her new label Elktone Records after four releases on the popular Nagel-Heyer label gained her
Nothing about this album looks like something we would normally cover. It’s modern in appearance, has a full marketing team behind it, is a likely
There are two distinct knots of extraordinary traditional jazz interpreters in Europe right now. One contingent consists of Andrew Oliver, Nick Ball, David Horniblow, Dave
Anthony Fuscaldo is a New Jersey based guitarist and composer. He has found success scoring films and documentaries, receiving accolades at film festivals in several
All being well, the socially distanced performance of jazz will soon be a thing of the past. Musicians will be able to gather again, arranging
Singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, called “The Poet Laureate
In the 1960s, Pete Fountain was the second best-known active clarinetist in the US, only behind Benny Goodman. His brand of New Orleans jazz was
Billie Holiday has inspired a number of books–often with conflicting views–that try to get a handle on her tumultuous and complex life.
Chris Barber, one of the most important figures in the history of British jazz, and a pioneer of both the Trad Jazz and Skiffle crazes,
Richard Karner, drummer for the Salty Dogs Jazz Band in the mid 1950’s, passed away at home, March 12. He was 85. A native of Lafayette,
George Segal died March 23. 2021 near his Santa Rosa, California home. He was perhaps best known for the broad scope of his television and
Jack Bradley died on March 21, he was 87. He discovered Louis Armstrong recordings as a child in the 30s and 40s and would go
Vol.6, No.4 April 2021
Pianist Terry Waldo: Wit and Wizardry, by Larry Melton & Neal Siegal
Noble Sissle: A Messenger of Musical Uplift, by Steve Provizer
George Orendorff, Part Two: George and Bix, by Dan Barrett
Michael Gamble: Better Late than Never, by Dave Doyle
Craig’s & Meredith’s Yearlong Epidemic Epic Kitchen Cabaret, by Neal Siegal
Hal and Kevin Talk Great Drummers, Pt. 2, by Hal Smith & Kevin Dorn
Bobby Bruce: 20th Century Fiddler, by Dave Radlauer
Joe “King” Oliver on the Road, by Peter Gerler
Ain’t Cha Got Music: Dancing Jazz, Pt. 2, by Jeff Barnhart & Hal Smith
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Jimmie Noone, illustration by Joe Busam
Static from my Attic, byAndy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
The Professor is IN: For the Record, by Adrian Cunningham
Quarter Notes: More Bits and Pieces, by Shelly Gallichio
The Man Who Sang to Beat the Band, by R.S. Baker
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco
Profiles in Jazz: Cliff Edwards – “Ukulele Ike”, by Scott Yanow
Blowing off the Dust: Celebrating Missouri’s Music, by Larry Melton
Dinner Music: Playable Cheese Slices Coming Soon
Return of Live Jazz Festivals on the Horizon, by Lew Shaw
I’d Rather Lead a Band, Cd Review by Barry Wahrhaftig
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
12 Jazz Violin Duos, Music Review by Edward A. Berlin
Remote Riffing, CD Review by Dave Doyle
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD Reviews by Joe Bebco
The United States versus Billie Holiday, Movie Review by Steve Provizer