Trumpeter James O’Donnell: The Motor City Jazz Maestro
Brian Sheridan
What are the most exciting and essential classic jazz recordings that have taken place since the end of World War II? I accepted the challenge of that question to put together a list that everyone can argue about. This five-part series briefly discusses 100 great recordings that all Syncopated Times
Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, May 31, 2025 Many of the songs we choose to sing spring to our lips because they’ve been drilled into our brains by corporate profit-fueled repetition, clogging airwaves and streaming channels. But there are other songs, songs that speak to our dreams and disappointments, songs that
There was a time not too long ago when it was roundly believed that women did not have the physical capabilities to play most horn instruments other than the flute. While jazz history prior to 1960 includes many female pianists and some violinists, the trumpet was considered a male instrument.
It is nearing 100 degrees as I write this, oppressively humid. I have Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, vol. 33 “Walkin’ Through The Streets,” her latest release, wafting gently off my porch, and it all feels very much like Louisiana late in June. But three weeks ago it was barely breaking
The 51st Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, MO took place, as usual, from Wednesday through Saturday, May 28-31. There were a couple events on Wednesday evening that I missed because my train was not due to arrive until 6:43 PM, and then was an hour late. The format was
Hal Smith: Brother Kevin, after we wrote about the great Fred Higuera, we decided to take a listen to some recordings by another West Coast drummer: Monte Mountjoy. Although many of his recordings (and film appearances) are not currently online, there are enough examples of his terrific drumming available on
A playlist of the discussed cuts can be found HERE. Jeff Barnhart: This month we’re continuing our exploration of the music and history of the New Black Eagle Jazz Band (NBEJB), a group from Boston that started in 1971 and, though with entirely different personnel save one, continues to this
In 2010, the enterprising Anderson brothers, Peter and Will, co-produced and directed a two-week off-Broadway tribute to Artie Shaw. Two years later, they presented a salute to Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey that ran for 30 consecutive sold-out shows. Since then, they have created, produced and starred in eight sold-out off-Broadway
This month is the second entry in my occasional series “To ______ or Not to ________” where I examine musical practices to try to find an answer to rhetorical questions. I failed to arrive at a definitive conclusion with my first topic (“To Quote or Not to Quote,” TST May
In the acoustic era, recording the violin was always a challenge. Even as the technology improved, the results didn’t always work out the best. In the 1890s, very few recordings of the violin were commercially available, and its difficulty to reproduce caused this. It was often stated that Fred Hager’s
This year, the Preservation Hall Foundation will open a new campus facility at 730 Saint Peter Street adjacent to the existing building and under a 50-year lease. The beautiful space will create new opportunities and income streams for musicians, provide visitors to the Hall with a more engaging interaction with
Pete Fountain was born Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr., on July 3, 1930, in New Orleans. Young Pete was very sickly, frequently battling respiratory infections due to weakened lungs. A doctor advised his father to try an unorthodox treatment: purchase the child a musical instrument, anything he has to blow into.
As if Anno Domini 2025 were not fraught enough with rumors of war and the vain, blustering hubris that ensures a constant level of High Alert, I received another not-so-subtle reminder of my mortality last Friday, June 20, when I bit down on a granola bar and my back molar
May Aufderheide was only 21 years old when Buzzer Rag, her fourth published composition, was issued in 1909. Much of the piece’s melodic material is in octaves, and the B section features many impetuous, thick right hand chords. Aufderheide wisely restates the piece’s A section after the intervening, less interesting
RIVER RAISIN RAGTIME REVUE’S RAGTIME EXTRAVAGANZA (Adrian, MI) July 5 This year, R4 is collaborating with the City of Adrian to commemorate Adrian’s bicentennial. This popular free festival will feature the R4 ragtime orchestra, Jerron Paxton, Ragtime Rick and the Chefs of Dixieland, as well as local talent. Spend the
Arthur Hamilton, the gifted songwriter best known for the classic jazz ballad “Cry Me a River,” died on May 20th. He claims to have never heard the phrase “cry me a river”; it just came to him as a better retort than established alternatives. The song was intended for Ella
John Cocuzzi, a vibraphonist, pianist, and drummer, well known to jazz party attendees, passed away on June 12, 2025, at 61. A Maryland native, Cocuzzi was a Washington, D.C. jazz scene staple for decades, captivating audiences with his Lionel Hampton-inspired vibraphone swing and a bluesy piano style drawn from Fats
I know people are reading this who have experience with grant research and grant writing as well as other nonprofit fundraising activities, and we are counting on you to step up and help us with those. I am good with words, and even legalese, I thought I would be a
Terry Waldo, a major classic jazz pianist and bandleader since the 1970s (remember his series of highly enjoyable Stomp Off albums of 1979-89?) is now 80 but still quite active. While the first of the three volumes in his Treasury series for the Turtle Bay label mostly featured the 2022
Husband and wife pianists Paolo Alderighi and Stephanie Trick, have often toured and performed while sharing a single piano. While their four-handed concerts are quite enjoyable, lively, and often witty, their recent recording Classic Jazz On Two Pianos is even better. Not only do they have twice as many keys
The late record producer and trombonist Big Bill Bissonnette not only recorded then-current New Orleans jazz bands for his Jazz Crusade label but occasionally compiled reissues of vintage music. His Rare Cuts – Well Done Vol. 11 release which focused on Kid Ory, Preston Jackson, and DePriest Wheeler, has been
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH George Chisholm (1915-97), who was born in Glasgow, Scotland and by 1936 was based in London, was a major trombonist. In fact, he could be considered one of Europe’s top jazz musicians of the 1930 and ’40s and he continued playing into the 1990s. During
An excellent trombonist who was born in Wales, Roger Marks took up his horn when he was 14. In his career he worked extensively with Rod Mason, recorded with a variety of the United Kingdom’s top jazz musicians (including Dick Charlesworth, Pete Allen, Bruce Turner, and Danny Moss) and led
The Lou Gold album is also pure gold. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I’ve known about Gold’s records for most of my life—you can find them everywhere including all three countries where I’ve lived, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. I believe I found one in Argentina, too. This album
Transcribing 78 rpm records and renovating the original audio quality is often very tricky, unless you are a trained professional. In short, don’t try this at home! Dancing the Devil Away started out as doubly tricky, because of the way Edison “diamond discs” were designed as opposed to regular 78
My introduction to Frank Westphal’s work was a 78 rpm record I used to have in my collection, called “The Duck’s Quack” which I thought was a delightful novelty number with some good musical skills underneath. I wish that I had had the opportunity to hear more of his work
I had heard and owned some recordings by the “Dixie Daisies” over the years but didn’t really know anything about them until listening to this excellent compact disc. After first listening to it a couple of times, I thought to myself that they sounded like two different bands. It’s a
So, my new friends in that local jazz trio which was seeking a pianist have heard me play keys and they have yet to ghost me on Facebook. We’ve yet to actually gig (or rehearse, actually) but I’m taking this as a good sign: It seems I’m still in the
If there’s one thing I miss about being a journo (and there is only one), it’s all the free theater tickets I used to enjoy. Some weeks I’d see three or four shows—I must have clocked up thousands of pounds in complimentary performances over the years, not to mention all
This book’s cover features a black-and-white snapshot of the author and
On Dec. 15, 1944, Major Glenn Miller was on a plane
Vol.10, No.7, July 2025
Trumpeter James O’Donnell: The Motor City Jazz Maestro, by Brian R. Sheridan
The Andersons Honor Jazz Legends in Music and Print, by Lew Shaw
Doreen’s Jazz, Rising Stars Heat Up a Cold Night in Rome, NY, by Joe Bebco
100 of The Hottest Classic Jazz Albums of 1945-2025, Pt.2, by Scott Yanow
Monte Mountjoy: Taking Care of Business on Drums, by H. Smith & K. Dorn
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Pete Fountain, illustration by Sara Lièvre
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Travels: The 2025 Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, by Bill Hoffman
My Inspirations: Is it a Bandstand or a Bandsit?, by Jeff Barnhart
Quarter Notes: Preserve, Protect, Perpetuate!, by Shelly Gallichio
Ragtime Vignettes: Buzzer Rag, by Brandon Byrne
Recording the Violin, by R.S. Baker
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco; illustration by Joe Busam
Profiles in Jazz: Dolly Jones, Valaida Snow, Billie Rogers, by Scott Yanow
Ain’t Cha Got Music: NBEJB, Pt.3, by Barnhart, Vincent, Pameijer, Novick
Is Jazz Your Friend?, by Michael Steinman
“A Little Help Here”; TST Could Really Use a Hand, by Joe Bebco
The Rosens Celebrate Musical “Hedonism” in Saratoga, by B.A. Nilsson
Nights at the Turntable, CD Reviews by Scott Yanow
Doyle’s Discs, CD Reviews by Dave Doyle
The Syncopated Bookshelf, Glenn Miller Declassified and The Hipster’s Legacy
The Davidson Angle, CD Reviews by Matthew de Lacey Davidson
