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
