The Japanese honor their most distinguished, and usually aged, artists with the title “Living National Treasure.” Bassist Bill Crow well deserves such a designation, and for far more than his age. While people often carry their years like a badly worn garment, his fit him like the finest garb from
Readers of The Syncopated Times may be familiar with the remarkable Sant Andreu Jazz Band of Barcelona, which has been the focus of several articles here in recent years. Since 2006, the band, created and directed by Joan Chamorro, has been giving aspiring young musicians in the Barcelona area an
This review, only now appearing in the middle of the winter, is a reminder of how enjoyable it was to once again spend some warm summer days in the picturesque vibrant seaside town of Bude on the Cornwall coast of England. The town is full of visitors joining the locals,
I’m not an economist, but the math doesn’t add up here: for all the supposed freedoms US citizens are promised, there are equal excuses as to why some of us aren’t granted the same liberties. Clearly some feel its constitution applies only to “citizens,” not “residents,” but how does it
It may seem surprising that Duke Ellington, who took over Elmer Snowden’s Washingtonians in 1924, did not have a regular vocalist until late in 1931. Through the decades, Ellington wrote quite a few songs that, when given lyrics, became well-known standards. But while he employed many distinctive instrumentalists in the
JB: Faithful readers, this month my fellow musical forensicist and I will be continuing our exploration of a nine-track LP released by Fantasy Records in 1964 called Blues Over Bodega that featured members of both the Yerba Buena and Turk Murphy Jazz Bands along with guests trombonist Bob Mielke and
Yes, I admit it. It’s a shorter issue this month. I could just be flippant and say “It’s a short month.” Or I could suggest that my temper is short and that the paper should be shortened to match. What I will assert is that these 32 pages contain as
This is a story of the power of memory, music, and love. My column last month on Connecticut’s restaurant Bill’s Seafood, its longtime owner the late Butch Claffey, and the legacy of live music and good times that continue there prompted correspondence asking to hear more about banjoist Dan Vece,
When listening to acoustic era recordings, some performers will usually turn people off right away, one of these performers is Billy Golden. He specialized in black American songs and imitations, which understandably may not be for everyone. Oftentimes his recordings present a more unusual look into what midwestern ragtime and
Alonzo “Lonnie” Johnson was born February 8, 1899, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Some sources give his birth year as 1894 or 1889.) He studied violin, piano, and guitar as a child and learned to play various other instruments, including the mandolin, but he concentrated on the guitar throughout his professional
In early June, on my way home from the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, I visited the Joplin House State Historic Site. I had been to the house once before, in 2007, but knowing now much more about Joplin and ragtime in general, I felt it was time for a return
Antoinette (1906) was the last of Scott Joplin’s three marches in 6/8 time to be published. The suspension of a melodic B over a C major chord in the opening section gives the piece’s main theme a softer edge. The B section (excerpt pictured) features a preponderance of right hand
Harry “The Hipster” Gibson (1915-91) was a unique character in jazz history. In some ways he was the jazz equivalent to rock and roll’s Jerry Lee Lewis although he appeared
“My merry Oldsmobile!” As rare as it is to hear that phrase nowadays, is to find an authentic 21st century jazz orchestra, unitedly perfecting the ethereal
“Just relax and play,” (John) Hammond instructed them. “No engineers in sight, no flashing lights—nothing but music. Only, please keep cigarettes off the piano.” The musicians
Last month I reviewed Matthew de Lacey Davidson’s double album The Graceful Ghost. This month my focus is on another multi-disc set issued by Davidson in
It is my pleasure to introduce Gavin Rice to our readers. Here at The Syncopated Times there is nothing that thrills us more than to learn that there is out here in the hinterlands a twenty-one year old making waves by wearing the clothes of the early 20th century and
Polish trombonist Dzimek Markiewicz is one of the best friends of this paper, having been a listener to Andy Senior’s RADIOLA! program for years ahead of his relaunch of The American Rag as The Syncopated Times almost a decade ago. Andy can even be heard introducing one of the tracks
Among the long runningest of the many traditional jazz bands that have achieved extreme longevity is the New Orleans Rascals of Osaka, Japan. Americans who have the impression that the Japanese are particularly enamored with traditional jazz and especially love George Lewis have picked up that idea from The Rascals,
Terry Waldo, who is now 80, has been a very busy and major classic jazz pianist and bandleader since the mid-1960s, several years before he met and began studying with Eubie Blake. He has produced shows both on stage and for television, authored the influential book This Is Ragtime (which
A consistently stirring trumpeter who caught the tail-end of the trad jazz boom in England and has since worked as a writer, broadcaster, and the founder of The National Jazz Archive and the Jazz Center UK, Digby Fairweather has recently been reissuing some of his best recordings from the past
In recent columns for The Syncopated Times, I have reviewed reissues compiled by Alan Eichler for the Jasmine label of Nat and Freddie Cole’s lesser-known but talented brothers Ike and Eddie Cole. Now it is Maria Cole’s turn. Maria Ellington Cole (1922-2012) was born as Maria Antoinette Hawkins. In 1943
[The EP referenced in the below review is now sold as a full 11 track album called Winter’s Day.] Gunhild Carling is a bit of a marvel. She is equally skilled as a hot jazz trumpeter and trombonist, can sing in several styles (ranging from Billie Holiday to Cab Calloway),
Jazz Classic of the Month The Jubilee radio shows, which were aired during 1942-53 and were at their prime during 1943-46, were geared towards African-American troops who were stationed overseas during World War II. and the following years. Hosted during this period by Ernest “Bubbles” Whitman, the programs featured many
Photographer and clarinetist William “Bill” Carter died on New Year’s Day; he was 90 years old. His photography books varied in subject from Iraqi Kurds and American ghost towns to Preservation Hall and New Orleans jazz. As a musician he toured the US with Turk Murphy in the 1950s and
Singer, saxophonist, songwriter, magician, puppeteer, and all around entertainer Danny Bacher passed away unexpectedly on December 16th; he was only 46. Bacher worked at many venues in the greater New York region including the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Jazz Loft, and Town Hall.
Trombonist and banjo player Frank Demond died on November 21st; he was 91. Born in Los Angeles he would at one time be the only member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band not from New Orleans. After hearing Kid Ory in the ’40s he fell in love with New Orleans
New York area bassist Joel Forbes died on December 27th; he was 68. His father, also known as Joel Forbes, was a jazz pianist in New York City and through him he was exposed to the best of classic jazz as only a working musician can know it. Forbes recorded
New Orleans saxophonist John “Prince” Gilbert died on December 15th; he was 66 years old. He was an original member of the Rebirth Brass Band. He was also a member of the Hot 8, New Birth, and Treme brass bands and could be regularly heard marching on the streets of
Santa Barbara-area ragtimer Kathi Backus died in early January; she was 79. A well known figure in the California ragtime community she played regularly at The Maple Leaf Club in Los Angeles during the 1970s. She strongly supported the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival from its inception. She frequented events at
Martial Solal died on December 12th; he was 97. The Algeria-born French pianist had been active in Europe since the 1950s. He performed with Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, Don Byas, Astor Piazzolla, Claude Bolling, Lucky Thompson, Sidney Bechet, Kenny Clarke, and many other figures. He had a long collaboration with
Marvin “Doc” Holladay died on November 25th, 2024. He was 95 years old. He was a baritone saxophonist and ethnomusicologist. After working as a freelance jazz artist in New York City he obtained a PhD in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University. He founded the jazz department at Oakland University in Michigan,
Vol.10, No.2, January 2025
Fire, Devastation, and Touchstones of Memory in Los Angeles, by Randi Cee
Celebrating Bill Crow’s 97th Birthday at Shanghai Jazz, by Schaen Fox
The Economics of an American Piano Player, by Dave E. Hull
Remembering Summer in Cornwall: Bude Jazz Fest, by Frank Farbenbloom
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Lonnie Johnson, illustration by Sara Lièvre
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Travels: The Scott Joplin House, by Bill Hoffman
My Inspirations: Berlin’s Bugler and his Banjo, by Jeff Barnhart
Ragtime Vignettes: Antoinette, by Brandon Byrne
Quarter Notes: Palm Court – Thanks for the Memory!, by Shelly Gallichio
Billy Golden: Monarch of Recorded Minstrelsy, by R.S. Baker
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco; illustration by Joe Busam
Profiles in Jazz: Duke Ellington and his Singers, Pt.1, by Scott Yanow
Ain’t Cha Got Music: Blues Over Bodega, Pt.2, by Jeff Barnhart & Hal Smith
Help Fund SAJB to Attend Essentially Ellington in NYC, by Garry Berman
Harry the Hipster Gibson, Book Review by Scott Yanow
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
The Vanguard of Classic Swing, CD review by B.A. Nilsson
Stolen Music, CD review by Brandon Byrne
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD reviews by Joe Bebco
In My Merry Oldsmobile Vol. III, CD review by Clorinda Nickols
