The Syncopated Times could use some new subscribers right now, and we’re offering a free CD to every reader who orders a new print subscription or to anyone buying a gift subscription, US addresses only. This offer is good as long as supplies last.
The CDs available were produced by long-time TST contributor Dean Norman, The Bums at Fagan’s and The Pearly Gates Marching Band. Dean Norman is a cartoonist and humor writer, whose work has appeared in greeting cards, The New Yorker, MAD Magazine, The Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine, and The Kansas City Star. He’s also written and illustrated children’s books, and a memoir, The Lucky Generation.
Mr. Norman has generously donated his available stock of CDs to our subscription drive, and we are deeply grateful to him. He says, “The Bums CD was given to patrons at Grugelfest several years ago, but sadly there are no trad jazz festivals in Ohio, and no jazz club in Cleveland.” The CD features the Bourbon St. Bums led by the legendary Ralph Grugel in 1968 and Grugel’s Eagle Jazz Band in a recording from 1993.
The Pearly Gates Marching Band is the audio version of a stage play by Dean Norman, featuring musicians Ben Herrick, leader, arranger, and trombone; Ray Heitger, clarinet; John Grafing, trumpet; Betsy Grafing, banjo; Buddy Lopez, drums; Andy Baker, tuba; Rick Grafing, piano and vocals; and Nicole Heitger, vocals. Voice actors include Phil Cartwright, Carol Cartwright, Brett Dennison, and Dean Norman (who also narrates).
In his review published in our August 2016 issue, Scott Yanow writes, “Dean Norman came up with an unusual but very musical idea for the self-titled CD by The Pearly Gates Marching Band. He narrates what is billed as ‘a musical comedy’ about a trad jazz band that plays at funerals for its members. The group gets smaller and smaller as the play progresses since one by one the musicians pass away. Despite the potentially downbeat topic, the narrative is upbeat and generally witty … it is fun and the hot jazz is excellent, no matter what the instrumentation.”
Dean Norman’s play strikes a familiar chord with us at TST, since many of our charter subscribers have left us since our first issue in February 2016. By buying gift subscriptions for your friends or by taking the initiative to subscribe to our physical paper, you will be doing much to ensure that we may stay in print.
