Italian-Americans were instrumental in the creation of jazz: Nick LaRocca. Leon Roppolo. Joe Venuti. Louis Prima. When he was born, Eddie Lang was named Salvatore
You may have met Dick Rippey selling CDs at numerous Midwest jazz festivals. Perhaps you own several favorite CDs on the Triangle Jazz label, such
This autumn I successfully funded an ambitious double CD project with the Glenn Crytzer Orchestra through Kickstarter. Disc one will be of classic Swing Era
In the St. Louis region, Dennis Owsley has been the source of jazz programming on the local NPR station KWMU since 1983. His Jazz Unlimited
What is it that T.S. Monk would like you to know about his famous father on the 100th anniversary of the elder Monk’s birth (October
No, the title “Jazz Bugs” doesn’t refer to a new jazz band but I wouldn’t be surprised. I use it in reference to being “bitten”
Jazz from before WW2 is experiencing a resurgence with a growing audience base. Because jazz education programs at the high school and collegiate level rarely
Early this year, veteran reedwoman Sarah Spencer relocated permanently to her native England after nearly two decades in the United States. Over the past several
In 2011, Attorney Herb Ely had the vision of opening an inclusive jazz venue in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona that would give budding jazz
I was languishing in my Tokyo hotel room with three days off, eight weeks into a thirteen week Far East tour, too lazy to practice,
The Scene of the crime? The new tenant had only recently taken up residence at 43-30 46th Street in the Borough of Queens, New York.
A few weeks ago, while looking up something else entirely, I happened to find a photo online of Leslie Johnson, who for 35 years published
On July 17, groundbreaking was held for an Educational and Visitors Center across the street from the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, New
Evergreen, Colorado, is about 1400 miles from New Orleans. But from July 28th through the 30th, the scenic mountain community will again become “Bourbon Street
Crystal Joy Albert’s memories of Thelonious Monk as compiled from an interview conducted by F. Norman Vickers: I was introduced to Monk by pianist John
The Man from Circleville The man the public came to know as Ted Lewis was born Theodore Leopold Friedman on June 6, 1890 in Circleville,
Larry “Link” Linkin’s name may not be all that familiar to most jazz fans, but this master clarinetist and retired president of the trade organization
(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
Brian Holland feels that his career as a professional musician was preordained. His music existence began at the age of 3. Blessed with perfect pitch
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,
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
Like the Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival that I reported on last month, Jeff and Joel’s House Party is a small event in
Some of my earliest and most heart-warming musical memories revolve around waking up early on Saturday mornings so I could do two things: 1. watch
The swing and Lindy Hop community lost one of its great leaders when Dawn Hampton passed away September 25, 2016. Dawn, a musician, dancer, writer,
You’ve heard about this phenom of the keyboard from Indonesia. You’ve read the lavish praise served up by the pundits of the jazz community and
A literal King of Jazz has died. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch and a great lover of jazz, passed away on
David Reffkin’s email on Tuesday, October 11th brought sad news: “Larry Karp died this morning at a hospital in Seattle…” Though I have read Larry’s
As the attendance of long withstanding patrons, musicians, volunteers, and trad jazz enthusiasts wanes, what does the future of the jazz festival community look like?
Not long ago, Tony Welch, historian and long-time member of the Portland (OR) Dixieland Jazz Society, interviewed jazz and gospel singer Marilyn Keller. Ms. Keller,
When the Chicago Hot Six takes the stage, you never know what you’ll hear! Could be the spiritual “Lead Me Savior” or the multi-strain ragtime
When I hear someone tell me, “I don’t care for jazz,” my first response is very direct: “Which kind do you dislike?” Many of my
Bringing Sophisticated, Cosmopolitan Swing to The Back Room Speakeasy in NYC For the past four years, Svetlana & The Delancey Five have been recreating a
Ragtime guitar, both classic and barrelhouse styles, has been around exactly as long as ragtime piano for exactly the same reasons. Entertainers in bars, sporting
When asked for his first impression on meeting Stephanie Trick in 2008 at a festival in Switzerland, Paolo Alderighi responded without hesitation, “I was totally
I’m in the advantageous position of being retired and living not all that far from New York City, that hotbed of trad jazz (and, I
“A horn is just like the voice. Person have no voice, they can’t sing.” – Edward “Kid” Ory. The question was: “How do you know
On August 11, my wife and I saw a screening of the much-hailed restoration of Universal᾽s 1930 Technicolor spectacular, The King of Jazz, featuring Paul
With many thousands of jazz concerts, festivals, and workshops worldwide, the passion for jazz has never been greater. That passion is shared by listeners and
The name Banu (pronounced “Bah-new”) means “lady” in Persian. Other sources say the name comes from “Peri-Banu,” a genie-woman mentioned in Arabian Nights. A person
One of notable (and somewhat problematic) characteristics of prewar jazz is the finite number of tunes from the era—not that “finite” means “small.” A bandleader
‘Seismic’ blues singer raises the Yerba Buena Stompers to new heights Why does Ida sing the blues? It’s like asking why the moon glows, and
Can free and paid jazz compliment each other or do they contradict the purpose of a jazz festival? With non-paying audiences five times larger than
Right around the mid 20th century mark, the Buffalo Public School System decided to include, as part of its comprehensive Physical Education Program, a course
The Riverside Jazz Party, hosted by Jeff and Carol Loehr, took place over the weekend of June 3-5, 2016 in Boise, Idaho. In the words
Once again, as has been tradition for the last 35 years, the melodious strains of Ragtime music reigned across the tiny town of Sedalia, Missouri
When Alida and Pieter Meijers first came to the United States from The Netherlands in 1968, they expected to stay only a year while Pieter
When the 15th annual Rochester International Jazz Festival concludes on Saturday, July 2, that night’s headliner will be a solid-sending son of old New Orleans.
We’ve all experienced that innocent (or maybe not so innocent) crush on a teacher, that one instructor we lusted after while struggling through our academic
What if I told you that Grandma Moses (the early 20th century, self-taught, primitive painter) played a hot upright bass in Buddy Bolden’s and Fletcher
When Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle’s Shuffle Along made its Broadway debut in 1921, it ran for an amazing 504 performances and launched the careers
Long-time festival directors Flossie and Ken Coulter are enjoying the second year of their retirement as year-round residents of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. They are
Syracuse, New York’s hottest trumpeter is taking a stroll down the sweet side of the street. Brass-instrument Brahmin Jeff Stockham—a member of the Salt City
Most jazz lovers know the contributions made through our embrace of ragtime late in the 19th century, as well as the important efforts of New
1974 was a notable year for many reasons – The Rockford Files debuted on NBC-TV, Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency of the United States amidst
Have you noticed the slow trend of the older jazz festivals to add new genres to their lineups, especially the trad fests? Perhaps the closing
After marrying his fourth wife, Lucille Wilson, in 1942, trumpeter Louis Armstrong was ready to settle down. Now the modest house on 107th street in
