(I’m often asked about Benny Goodman when I’m interviewed, and I bristle when people only want to hear the negative Benny Goodman stories or the
African American Song Writers In the 19th century, African-American tunesmiths struggled to have their compositions published. The institution of slavery had only ended during the
With the passing of Cam Miller, the traditional jazz community has lost a man who was universally loved and respected. While he was unable to
The Welbourne Jazz Camp takes place every summer on a country estate in Virginia, but it began with a chance meeting in New Orleans. The
Bob Erdos (1930-2017) Traditional jazz lost one of its greatest champions when Bob Erdos passed away on March 25 at the age of 86. Erdos,
Introducing the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Co-directors Carol and Jeff Loehr have added a special, one-night-only performance of the famed Tommy Dorsey Orchestra led by Terry
When we all come to that moment of truth when we have to dispose of our cherished record collections, the question arises: What is the
Much has been written about Ralph Grugel and the Grugelfest event that honors his contribution to traditional jazz. One of Ralph’s greatest fans was John
In an era of ever-changing musical styles and tastes, it’s truly amazing that The Four Freshmen have been harmonizing, recording and touring for 69 years,
Full disclosure: For the past four years it has been my honor to coordinate inviting a jazz band to play at the Easter Parade and
A “soft opening” of the Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archive Collection in Davenport, Iowa for patrons and donors is scheduled for July 21, to be
Pat Yankee led her own big band, tap-danced on stage with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, was Maurice Chevalier’s first choice for an opening act on Broadway,
“Jazz is Dead!” That’s what we are told time and again by the media, music publications and the general public. To satisfy my own curiosity,
When he was a kid growing up in Rhode Island, Harry Allen played the hot corner. Now he plays a hot horn. The former Burrillville
Nat Hentoff told his readers early on: “I was introduced to jazz, and that’s become a basic concern and passion of mine ever since.” Hentoff’s
In the history of jazz, people who do not play instruments do as much, in different ways, to sustain the art without getting equal credit.
‘Oh! Didn’t He Ramble!’ Tom Jacobsen, the author of three important studies of contemporary New Orleans jazz, died Jan. 15, at his home in St.
I didn’t have far to travel to write this installment—25 miles to my hometown of York, PA—to interview my friend Bob Erdos. Bob, as many
It is significant that T.S. Eliot and Scott Joplin lived in St. Louis at the same time. In fact knowing of Eliot’s fascination with English
Robert “Bob” Effros was born December 6, 1900 in London, England. His Russian Jewish parents emigrated shortly afterward from London to Memphis, Tennessee. Raised in
Elkhart, Indiana has long been the major center in the United States for the manufacture of band instruments. Over the past century, the city has
As a long-time jazz fan (over 70 years), I find that I’m no longer as distressed by the doomsayers who say “Jazz is dead!” or,
The Original Cornell Syncopators were founded in 2016 at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, by cornetist Colin Hancock with the goal of creating an ensemble dedicated
I confess it: I was not raised on jazz. My earliest memories have a soundtrack of fifties and sixties music, and my dance education began
