Russ Phillips: ‘Retired?’ What’s That About?
Lew Shaw March 26, 2019
Trombonist Russ Phillips has yet to figure out what the word “retirement” means. Even before he retired from his day job as a production and
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Trombonist Russ Phillips has yet to figure out what the word “retirement” means. Even before he retired from his day job as a production and
When I see the long lists of famous musicians from New Jersey, it makes me wonder whether it’s all coincidental or, maybe, there’s really something
“… One afternoon, back in Port of Spain, Trinidad, I met four scientists in a bar, they were on their way to West Africa to
Singer Catherine Russell is jazz royalty, a queen of jazz, soul, and blues. Her crown comes not only from her immense talent as a vocalist
You may have already stumbled upon Kristen Mosca on Youtube. Out of a handful of pianists drawing attention for their video posts, she seems to
After making a living as a musician for 48 of his 61 years and having performed in 101 countries around the world, you’d think Danny
Since high school, Canadian jazz singer Matt Dusk has dreamed of swaggering in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. So
Viola Smith passed away on October 21st, 2020 at home in Costa Mesa, California at age 107. In the fall of 2018 trombone legend Dan
Bandleader Marla Dixon didn’t grow up playing traditional jazz, at one point she was putting her trumpet to use in a ska band. Then a
Ehud Asherie has definitely taken a circuitous route to becoming a professional musician. The 39-year-old pianist was born in Israel, lived in Italy for six
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, “Little Eddie” Metz was given his first pair of drumsticks at the age of three
Movies can help us dream. They can show us a world of possibilities or places long gone or places that never were. For singer/songwriter Kat
One of the things that interests and intrigues me most as I have interviewed and written about more than 100 musicians in the past decade
When I contacted Seattle based guitarist Greg Ruby to let him know he’d be on our cover part of his reply was: “Earlier this summer,
I was introduced to Tuba Skinny in 2010 through videos uploaded by YouTube pioneers Al and Judy Alexander. The Alexanders, whose YouTube channel is digitalalexa,
At 21 Daisy Castro has already had an interesting and varied career in music. She began to learn classical violin at age six and was
The Harlem-based Bandleader Ruminates on Music, Performance, and Style William Shakespeare once famously asked “What’s in a name?” That line from Romeo and Juliet could
I first heard Turk Murphy’s band back in my sportswriting days when I was in Cleveland, Ohio, to cover a college football game in 1949.
With the cleverest band name I’ve ever heard, The Night Blooming Jazzmen have entertained and impressed traditional jazz fans since 1975. The band was originally
This column’s title includes the word “travels.” This installment is no different, but this time the travels weren’t mine. Neville Dickie, the renowned British stride
Australian-born Adrian Cunningham got hooked on jazz early in life listening to his father’s collection of 78 RPM records. As he began to achieve success
A Conversation with Michael Feinstein on the Enduring Appeal of Popular Music For aficionados of the Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein needs no introduction. The
In my essay about the decline of jazz festivals (“What is to be Done?” March 2018) I wrote “None of the early legends of jazz
It was about 15 years ago that I first began to hear rave reports about a young Canadian trumpet player who was taking the Dixieland
Four generations of reedman Evan Arntzen’s family have been merry music makers. Covering more than 100 years. Evan’s great-grandfather came to North America from Norway
When New York City pianist-singer Bobby Short died in 2005, Steve Ross, the “crown prince of cabaret” as the New York Times dubbed him, became
At just 21 Colin Hancock is making serious waves in the early jazz community. Hancock, now in his junior year at Cornell University, discovered the
At a time when most people are just beginning to hit their stride, Sam Post already has a long list of accomplishments to his name
Chuck Redd has a growing reputation as one of the top performers on the jazz circuit today. He’s equally adept on the drums and vibraphone,
The ‘Transcendent’ Purpose and Relevance of Early Jazz Mike Davis may be the most ubiquitous trumpet player in New York City. On any given night,
Tokyo native making her bones in old New Orleans Like a cyclone from across the Pacific, trombonist Haruka Kikuchi blew away audiences at last year’s
It’s Trivia Night down at the local pub, and the question is: “Who was the official banjoist for the New York Yankees?” Or the question
Versatility and innovation are two terms that most appropriately can be applied to trumpeter Randy Sandke, although he considers himself more of a survivor who
Traveling the Clarinet Road Evan Christopher is passionate about two things: the style in which he plays his musical instrument, and the adopted city which
Children often change their minds about what they want to be when they grow up as often as they change their socks. As teens, they
It was a jazz critic from Great Britain writing for the BBC in 2013 who anointed Ken Peplowski with superstar status when he declared that
For an evening of nostalgia, good music, and light humor, be sure to catch Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester if they happen to pass
Muriel Anderson, a remarkable musician, is in the top echelon of international guitarists, and perhaps one of the most versatile. Her insatiable musical curiosity and
A bibliography of Howard Alden’s career provides some interesting benchmarks that delineate the impressive accomplishments of a musician who has been called “the most impressive
At the Chicken Fat Ball in Maplewood, NJ—the subject of this month’s Jazz Travels column—I saw 12-year-old Henry Acker on guitar with Jason Anick’s band.
Bringing New Orleans-style jazz to America from abroad might sound like carrying coals to Newcastle—except when those coals burn hotter and brighter than what is
When the JazzHappensBand returns “(Back Home Again) in Indiana,” the seven musicians turn a warm homecoming into a hot happening. First, trumpeter Jeff Dovi (pronounced
Reedman and jazz scholar Dan Levinson is poised to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of recorded jazz this year with a series of concerts featuring
Brian Holland feels that his career as a professional musician was preordained. His music existence began at the age of 3. Blessed with perfect pitch
Becoming an overnight sensation is no small feat—especially in the unpredictable world of jazz, and particularly in its very birthplace, New Orleans. But here, for
You’ve heard about this phenom of the keyboard from Indonesia. You’ve read the lavish praise served up by the pundits of the jazz community and
The idea was always to bring the music to the people. Over its nine years in existence, New York City’s Baby Soda Jazz Band has
Not long ago, Tony Welch, historian and long-time member of the Portland (OR) Dixieland Jazz Society, interviewed jazz and gospel singer Marilyn Keller. Ms. Keller,
When the Chicago Hot Six takes the stage, you never know what you’ll hear! Could be the spiritual “Lead Me Savior” or the multi-strain ragtime
When asked for his first impression on meeting Stephanie Trick in 2008 at a festival in Switzerland, Paolo Alderighi responded without hesitation, “I was totally
She may be just 22 years of age, but jazz singer Veronica Swift is no novice. The daughter of veteran jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and
Rarely are the offspring of famous, larger-than-life performers capable of carrying forward the musical legacy of their forebears with the same stellar level of talent
The name Banu (pronounced “Bah-new”) means “lady” in Persian. Other sources say the name comes from “Peri-Banu,” a genie-woman mentioned in Arabian Nights. A person
One of notable (and somewhat problematic) characteristics of prewar jazz is the finite number of tunes from the era—not that “finite” means “small.” A bandleader
‘Seismic’ blues singer raises the Yerba Buena Stompers to new heights Why does Ida sing the blues? It’s like asking why the moon glows, and
It’s not uncommon that certain musicians who have achieved a degree of renown as interpreters of the classical repertoire dip into other realms of music
When the 15th annual Rochester International Jazz Festival concludes on Saturday, July 2, that night’s headliner will be a solid-sending son of old New Orleans.
An indication of Katie Cavera’s popularity can easily be found by checking her calendar of upcoming engagements, which shows consistent bookings into January 2018. She
An artist is by definition a misfit and a malcontent: one who, upon finding reality unsatisfactory reaches to make or find meaning through inspired creative
Tim Laughlin [LOCK-lin] has been tabbed “The Swinging Son of New Orleans.” He determined early in his career that he wanted to separate himself from
At first appearance, Singapore Slingers leader Matt Tolentino seems a living definition of the word “anachronism.” He might be an impeccably-groomed Jazz Age time-traveler, dropped
A highly-respected performer in all areas of jazz from traditional to avant-garde, Scott Robinson has established his own unique musical voice, which was described in
A Note of Correction: Deano Assunto, the son of trumpeter Frank Assunto (of the original Dukes of Dixieland) was in touch with us recently to
The “hot” band touring the country these days is appropriately named The Hot Sardines. This eight-member group out of New York City has six musicians,
There aren’t many Native Americans who became big names in the world of jazz. Among the few, Mildred Bailey, the “Rockin’ Chair Lady”, came from
From great-grandmother to grandfather to father to son. That’s the musical legacy of the Allred family. John Allred’s great-grandmother was born near New Orleans in
Wende Harston, longtime vocalist for the Queen City Jazz Band, fell on hard times through a series of unexpected life events and bad luck and
Leah Bezin, banjoist with Chicago’s award-winning West End Jazz Band, considers music a species of divine insanity. “People who love jazz are marked. It’s a
When people ask pianist Ed Clute if he has been blind his whole life, he answers, “Not yet.” Ed is quite possibly the hardest-swinging stride
Over the years many New Orleans families have proudly passed down musical traditions from generation to generation. Names such as Tio, Dodds, Keppard, St. Cyr,
An accomplished and energetic touring musician, Rob Wright is a former member of the famed folk ensemble, The New Christy Minstrels. Having played in all
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