
Genre Fluid
Have I told you lately that contention makes me tired? Just when I think it’s possible to pause and enjoy a moment of relative serenity,
Have I told you lately that contention makes me tired? Just when I think it’s possible to pause and enjoy a moment of relative serenity,
Well, it’s been quite month. Of course, for me, every month is “quite a month”—but this one, if it were a physical rather than an
The current issue of the ARSC Journal arrived with a most welcome surprise—a 27-track CD produced by the organization of carefully restored and recorded tracks
In addition to everything else going on, I turn 60 this May. (Or should I say “dismay?”) It’s nothing to celebrate, but I thought the
Vic Berton was born Victor Cohen in Chicago on May 7, 1896. Vic grew up in a middle-class household, though one with a streak of
Alberta Hunter was born April 1, 1895, in Memphis, Tennessee. She never knew her father, and was not happy with her stepfather. She left home
I was lucky to grow up in a community that was ethnically (if not racially) diverse. Certain nationalities predominated, and in the cul-de-sac where I
To the Editor: As per your editorial [How Are You?, March 2022], both my wife and I are fine. Thanks for asking. I was a
Haldane Stanley Duff (Stan) Huddleston, longtime banjoist with the High Sierra Jazz Band, passed away peacefully at home on February 10, 2022. Stan was born
You say “Paloma,” I say “Pomona” To the Editor: I’m among many to be saddened to hear that Chet Jaeger is no longer with us.
Frank Teschemacher was born March 13, 1906, in Kansas City, Missouri. After his family moved to Chicago in 1912, Frank took up a number of
Not that I want to brood on untoward anniversaries, but this month marks two years since everything shut down, but good. I find with some
Nancy Pauli, co-director of the Alexandria Bay Ragtime/Jasstime Festival and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dixieland Jazz Club, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 5, 2022, in Kitchener,
Joseph “Wingy” Manone was born February 13, 1900, in New Orleans. Manone acquired his lifelong nickname when, at the age of 10, his right arm
Since publishing my first issue of The Syncopated Times six years ago this month, the time has just flown. It doesn’t feel like a minute
Ewell, Hoagy To the Editor: Great to see justice done to Don! Ewell was a jewel. Fellow keyboard giant and friend Dick Wellstood introduced me
It has recently come to our attention—and it may be news to others—that the Golden Record created to accompany the Voyager space probe missions with
Harry Reser was born Harrison Franklin Reser on January 17, 1896, in Piqua, Ohio. Harry, a first cousin of the airplane-inventing Wright Brothers, demonstrated remarkable
– “Academic?” – To the Editor: Yes, on the one hand, the thorough Tribute to Donald Ashwander was a bit more than I needed to
Over the past two years all of us have had to recalibrate our definition of “normal.” It used to be typical that we would see
Irving Henry Prestopnik (Irving Fazola) was born in New Orleans on December 10, 1912. He started on piano, but as he switched to reed instruments—first
I’ve never considered myself one for taking risks. I was always that kid whose knees buckled at the notion of climbing to the highest diving
Cynthia Sayer, hailed as one of the finest four-string banjoists in the world today, has just issued The Swinging Solos of Elmer Snowden, a book
Remembering Ralph Sutton To the Editor: What a great surprise and delight to see the photo and read the article by Jeff Barnhart about Jeff,
Wilbur Dorsey “Buck” Clayton was born November 12, 1911, in Parsons, Kansas. Buck learned piano at an early age, then studied trumpet with his father
Chris Reid, of London, England, has compiled a discography of the vocal recordings of beloved banjoist and singer Clancy Hayes. Hayes notably performed with Bob
Let me confess here that I have long had a love of Classic Calypso. I’m referring specifically to the lively and witty Trinidadian music recorded
In every issue of The Syncopated Times, I mean to celebrate the life force; syncopation itself is the pulse of life. The beat of one’s
We are delighted to extend birthday greetings to ragtime scholar, polymath, and entertainer Max Morath, who turns 95 on October 1st. Max was born on
George Wein, jazz promoter, pianist, and producer, died in Manhattan on September 13; he was 95. He was the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival,
Harry Warnow, known to us as Raymond Scott, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 10, 1908. Warnow grew up with parallel interests in
In my capacity as publisher of The Syncopated Times, one of the duties I must fulfill is that of cheerleader for the music. It’s necessary
It often happens that, when I need to cleanse my palate of the taste of drudgery that this gig engenders, I will browse our local
Helen Kane was born Helen Claire Schroeder in New York City on August 4, 1904. Her first stage experience was in school theatricals, but by
Elliot Lawrence, one of the last-living bandleaders of the Big Band Era, died on July 2, 2021. He was 96. Lawrence was born Elliot Lawrence
Seger Pillot Ellis was born July 4, 1904, in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Seger much admired the local pianists in the city, Jack Sharpe,
The reader will note that a rather morbid undercurrent has run through this column over the past two months. In May, I noted the death
Don Murray was born in Joliet, Illinois, on June 7, 1904, and attended high school in Chicago. In his teens he earned a reputation as
Stan McDonald, best known globally as a traditional jazz musician for his soaring and passionate soprano saxophone and clarinet inspired by Sidney Bechet, died on
By the time you hold this paper in your hand, I will have achieved the grim distinction of being exactly the same age New Yorker
Cheers for Terry Waldo! To the Editor: I enjoyed the recent article about Terry Waldo by Larry Melton and Neal Siegal published in the April
I was reminded of my favorite childhood reading material this past month when I heard that Frank Jacobs, the extraordinary writer of light verse and
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
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
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
Jean Goldkette’s date and place of birth remain a matter of conjecture. According to Wikipedia, he was born March 18, 1893, though May 18 of
I’m going to veer wildly off-format here in order to fulfill a promise I made in this column last month. Last year, a subscriber named
Lillian Hardin was born February 3, 1898, in Memphis, Tennessee. Lillian received piano tutelage first from her third-grade teacher, eventually matriculating at a more formal
I was deeply honored this month to receive a message from the legendary jazz writer, editor, archivist, and producer Dan Morgenstern, who offered his kind
I begin to think I should rename this column “The Crisis of the Month.” A crisis is not necessarily a bad thing, but it demands
This month we celebrate one of our own: Lew Shaw, who turns 95 on January 14, and whose latest installment of Jazz Jottings may be
Jabbo Smith was born Cladys Smith in Pembroke, Georgia, on December 24, 1908. After the death of his father, his mother found it increasingly difficult
As I begin this column, it approaches six o’clock in the morning of my printer’s deadline. If I was able last month to glide to
Joe Sullivan was born Joseph Michael O’Sullivan in Chicago on November 4, 1906. The last of nine children, Joe demonstrated serious musical ability at an
This month’s paper, late though you may receive it, is something of a miracle. One week before this writing I was in a state of
Eddie Lang was born Salvatore Massaro in Philadelphia on October 25, 1902. His personal and musical history is inextricably linked with that of Joe Venuti,
I realize that most readers turn to this column with the expectation of somewhat light-hearted commentary, so I am reluctant to unpack this month’s stock
When I published my first issue of The Syncopated Times, I worked to compensate for the variables and uncertainties involved in getting started. Not the
Vaughn De Leath was born Leonore Vonderlieth in Mount Pulaski, Illinois, on September 26, 1894. At age 12, Leonore relocated to Los Angeles with her
If anything is musically analogous to this historical fermata, it must be the chorus-length note held by Carmen Lombardo on the Royal Canadians’ classic (and
Abe Lyman was born Abraham Simon on August 4, 1897, in Chicago, Illinois. He and his brother Mike changed their last name to Lyman because
If San Francisco jazz had its own Mount Rushmore, Pat Yankee would be on it. Born in Lodi, California, Pat saw a medicine show at
Noble Sissle was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 10, 1889. While still a teenager, he toured in vaudeville in the Midwest with a male
Each month, it seems, represents a newer normal. Normal wants to update itself relentlessly, much like my Windows operating system—usually at no small inconvenience and
With the avalanche of festival cancellations and postponements that have occurred due to the coronavirus crisis this year, festival organizers are looking for possible ways
Ernest “Punch” Miller was born in Raceland, Louisiana, on June 10, 1894. Since his twin sister was named Ernestine Judy, it was natural that he
There’s a very good reason that you’ve most likely never heard of violinist and bandleader Nat Brusiloff. Brusiloff, born Naucham Brusilovsky in Russia in 1904,
For the first 52 issues of this paper, page three has contained a column of my mental regurgitations which many readers, unaccountably, look forward to
Sidney Joseph Bechet was born in New Orleans on May 14, 1897. Sidney grew up in a middle-class Creole household, and learned several musical instruments
In the second month of our siege against an implacable and impersonal enemy, I am a bundle of conflicting and untidy emotions. It really is
Edward Elzear “Zez” Confrey was born in Peru, Illinois, on April 3, 1895. Zez grew up in a musical household in which his older brother,
Leslie Carole Johnson was the founder and editor of The Mississippi Rag from 1973 until shortly before her death in 2009. In January 2007, she attended the IAJE
This is the Festival Roundup as it was way way back in the sad days of quarantines and face masks. To see our current and
To the Editor: Enjoyed the March issue of Syncopated Times (as usual). Just want to point out a misidentification in New Orleans Music Observed: The
There is no point in attempting my usual meandering approach to the topic that preoccupies all of us at the moment. Just as unnecessary travel
I wasn’t going to write the column I’m about to write. It’s going to cause me more of the trouble I’ve lately been experiencing, but