The teaming up of New Orleans clarinetist George Lewis and England’s Ken Colyer always made perfect sense. Colyer (1928-88), who was always a proponent of
Tex Beneke (1914-2000) certainly had an odd career. One of the main stars of the Glenn Miller Orchestra during 1938-42 where his good-natured singing and
It was May 26, 1942 and 19-year old tenor-saxophonist Illinois Jacquet was set to be featured on “Flying Home” with the Lionel Hampton big band.
Clarinetist Pee Wee Russell (1906-69) and tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins (1904-69), despite being active during the same decades, rarely crossed paths in the studios. On Nov.
Strange as it seems, Louis Armstrong never recorded a Christmas album. Xmas records have become so common since the 1970s but they were rarer before
Christmas songs have always had chord changes that appeal to trad jazz and swing players (probably because many were written prior to 1950) and serve
While Benny Goodman recorded an enormous amount of music in his career, particularly if one includes radio broadcasts, transcriptions and live concerts, it is fairly
June Richmond (1919-62) is best remembered (if she is remembered at all) for being the first African-American singer to be part of a white big
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH Al Hirt (1922-99) was one of the most popular of all New Orleans trumpeters. Blessed with phenomenal technique, he sometimes
This is the second in a five-part series covering the unique and very productive career of Duke Ellington. Ellington was 30 when 1930 began and
When one thinks of the great swing trumpeters of the 1930s and ’40s, the names of Louis Armstrong, Bunny Berigan, Henry “Red” Allen, Harry James,
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
It’s Chicago in 1927. Trombonist Roy Palmer and musicians inspired by Louis Armstrong (perhaps Bob Shoffner), Johnny Dodds, and Jelly Roll Morton are joined by
For his recent release on the Spanish Swit label, pianist Ignasi Terraza decided to feature what he called an “unusual trio” with Adrian Cunningham on
Jazz Classic of the Month The Spirits Of Rhythm were a unique, swinging and joyful group that hit it big at the Onyx Club on
The Umlaut Big Band is a very flexible and musical ensemble based in France that is directed by alto-saxophonist Pierre-Antoine Badaroux. Two of their recent
Of all of the successful big band leaders of the swing era, Jimmie Lunceford had one of the most unusual beginnings. While most leaders were
Clarence Williams was born October 6th or 8th, 1893, in Plaquemine, Louisiana. He ran away from home when he was 12 to join Billy Kersands’
Chip Deffaa has had a busy life with several overlapping careers. From the jazz standpoint, he has been most significant in writing five very valuable
When tenor-saxophonist Harry Allen’s name appears on a CD, it is always worth acquiring. Austrian drummer Reinhardt Winkler is actually the leader of Flying Home,
Altoist Johnny Hodges (1907-70) had one of the most beautiful tones of any saxophonist and was a major asset to the Duke Ellington Orchestra for
