JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981) was one of the truly great songwriters from the era of the Great American Songbook. While most
One of the great frustrations in studying early jazz is trying to understand how the music sounded near its beginnings. There is not only a
The great pianist and composer André Previn once said, “Stan Kenton can stand in front of a thousand fiddles and a thousand brass and make
Since 1976, Vince Giordano has led one of the most authentic-sounding small big bands in 1920s jazz, an 11-piece orchestra that really sounds as if
The Gypsy Jazz movement of the past 30 years has resulted in scores of rewarding albums by guitarists who are inspired by Django Reinhardt. Some
The Secret Six (named after abolitionist John Brown’s Secret Society of Six) has been active since its formation in 2020. A fixture in New Orleans
I have often thought of Molly Ryan as a jazz singer who has some similarities to Helen Ward (best known for singing with Benny Goodman
As a follow-up to their Tribute To Buddy Johnson CD, the Planet D Nonet, a band based in Detroit pays homage to Duke Ellington on
Scott Yanow’s Jazz Classis of the month. In 1928, a very influential record date by the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans helped launch the Chicago jazz movement, one
Of all of the swing era bandleaders, Glenn Miller had more hit records than anyone else in the jazz world, more than Benny Goodman, Artie
Duke Ellington’s accomplishments and innovations as a composer, arranger, pianist, and bandleader are so vast that one or two articles cannot do him justice. This
The Nutcracker was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-93) in 1892 for a two-act ballet. Nine of the numbers from the ballet were selected by
Following on the success of their previous Early Hours recording, drummer Hal Smith’s New Orleans Night Owls have released Messin’ Around. As with their earlier
Archeophone, the top label in reissuing pre-1920 music, recently added 1904 to their Phonographic Yearbook series. Just as in their other releases in this series
With a name like the Cosmo Alleycats, one may think that this group plays lowdown music for science fiction movies. But while some may use
Fats Sadi (1927-2009) was never a household name in the United States (he does not seem to have ever visited America) but he was one
Pianist Earl Hines recorded prolifically throughout his career, particularly during 1928-79. He made a major comeback in 1965 after almost being forgotten by many jazz
When one thinks of the top alto-saxophonists of the swing era, the names of Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter and perhaps Willie Smith (from the Jimmie
Duke Ellington’s accomplishments, innovations, and sheer productivity as a bandleader, pianist, arranger and composer were so vast that one or two articles cannot do justice
Banu Gibson became a major attraction at jazz festivals in the early 1980s and has long been one of the top singers on the classic
Notes From A Jazz Life, Volume 3 is the third twofer that draws its material from trumpeter-cornetist Digby Fairweather’s earlier records. While one would expect
British pianist Ray Smith has worked and recorded with Ken Colyer (1968-81), cornetist Steve Lane, the London Ragtime Orchestra, cornetist Rod Mason, Bent Persson, and
