Reedman Keenan McKenzie Keeps Riffing!
Dave Doyle
May 31, 2021
Hal Smith: Jeff, when you think about the traditional jazz “warhorses”—like “At The Jazz Band Ball,” “That’s A Plenty” or “Fidgety Feet”—traditional jazz musicians usually
Jazz history is not necessarily written by its winners, yet they still manage to dominate the narrative. There are certainly landmark musicians whose influence merits
They were a bit of an odd couple. Red Norvo was thin and soft-spoken while Mildred Bailey was heavy and could be rather boisterous. But
Over the years, Adrian Cunningham has made his mark on the jazz scene. Knowing a bit of his background, I wanted to interview him, but
Last month’s piece in this column was on Charlie Carson and his partner in crime Russell Hunting. This month will be a continuation of Carson’s
Louis Armstrong entered a new and lucrative phase of his career in 1947 when he broke up his big band and formed his All-Stars. While
On March 18th banjoist Jim Jones suffered a severe stroke near his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, according to information received from his wife,
In an attempt to address the shortfall in “honest, reliable guidance in matters of music and culture,” noted jazz writer-author Ted Gioia has launched an
My only contacts with Dr. W. Royal Stokes, who passed away last month at the age of 90, were an occasional exchange of emails, but
Sad news that Arthur’s Tavern, the historic blues and jazz club in New York City’s West Village for over 70 years, has officially closed. The
Over her 50-plus-year career, Maria Muldaur has worked with dozens of musical giants and geniuses, from Ry Cooder to Duke Robillard to Jerry Garcia. She
The British weather has been … changeable, over the last month. I know, bad weather in Britain—quelle surprise. But honestly, the sun has been unusually
Stanley ‘Stan’ Montrose McDonald, Jr. (1935-2021) loved the music of Sidney Bechet, his wife Ellen, their historic semi-rural Massachusetts home and a hard-driving rhythm section
Do not interpret an event not being on this list as a cancellation, it means only that they have yet to announce any information about
We received a number of informed replies to Ed Berlin’s article about Gus Haenschen’s relationship to Scott Joplin in the May issue. In the interest
I was talking with a colleague recently who told me that someone had uploaded all the Nirvana songs to an A.I. algorithm, then the A.I.
Don Murray was born in Joliet, Illinois, on June 7, 1904, and attended high school in Chicago. In his teens he earned a reputation as
Sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the following press release was a welcome announcement: “NICKEL-A-DANCE is a free series of Sunday afternoon
As I watch civilization slowly emerge from our pandemic hibernation, I realize we still live in a dangerous world. I find myself in a tentative
Music enthusiasts interested in folk-flavored Ragtime should take a serious look at the work of Minnesotan Brian Keenan, whose The Wagon Wheel is a modern
4 years BC (Before Covid) my life hit a scary financial pothole. I had a small, yet vital secondary income and theoretically it would have
By the time you hold this paper in your hand, I will have achieved the grim distinction of being exactly the same age New Yorker
This is a most unusual album for Dick Hyman because the great pianist does not play a note. Instead, three of his works are interpreted
Albert Nicholas (1900-73) was a masterful New Orleans clarinetist with his own distinctive sound. After gaining experience playing in New Orleans, he was part of
Nicki Parrott is well-known as a popular bassist and occasional vocalist who has performed at a countless number of swing-oriented jazz record dates, parties, clubs,
There are scores of swing era big bands whose recorded histories are well worth exploring. Once one has heard the highlights of the obvious greats
Jazz history of the 20th century will be best remembered through its recordings. Just as stage actors who did not appear in films are doomed
Big Bill Bissonnette (1937-2018) was a spirited trombonist (inspired by his idol Jim Robinson), an occasional drummer, and the leader of the Easy Riders Jazz
The Secret Six is a pandemic inspired ensemble featuring core members of the Smoking Times Jazz Club, one of my favorite New Orleans bands, as
I’ve been waiting patiently for Cait and the Critters to release another full length album. Cait Jones is one of many talented young bandleaders in
At 19 years old Shaymus Hanlin is one of the younger musicians you are likely to see on stage at West Coast jazz festivals this
In October 2019 a group of top tier traditional jazz musicians decided to learn from King Oliver‘s iconic Creole jazz Band recordings by playing them
Chris Hopkins leads the fine Echoes of Swing group, which we profiled several years ago when they released a double album tribute to Bix. An
Remote recording albums may stick around post Covid-19. Younger musicians have been jamming with each other online for years. In the studio playing in separate
When an iconic female vocalist steps up to front the world’s spunkiest, funkiest trad-jazz combo, musical
The West Coast of the U.S. has long been blessed with a large complement of traditional jazz bands—professional and semi-professional—societies, and festivals, it seems.
Band names don’t get much grander than The Intercontinental Jazz Ambassadors. But then lockdown-driven remote
All being well, the socially distanced performance of jazz will soon be a thing of
Bob Koester, founder of Chicago’s Delmark Records and operator of one of the most beloved record stores in the world died on May 12th, he
Jazz critic W. Royal Stokes passed away on May 1, 2021, he was 90 years old. He was a boogie woogie fan as a teenager
Edward J “Jazzman Joe” Lynch, Jr., died on May 13, 2021 due to complications following Covid. Joe was born September 18, 1934 in Passaic, NJ.
Band leader Tim Gill, and his wife Joylani were killed on April 18th when their small plane crashed in Arizona. Tim was 37 years old
Stan McDonald, best known globally as a traditional jazz musician for his soaring and passionate soprano saxophone and clarinet inspired by Sidney Bechet, died on
Veteran trumpet tester Jim Anastasi passed away on April 13. He was 95 years old. Jim served as the trumpet tester for the King Band Instrument
Vol.6, No.6 June 2021
Reedman Keenan McKenzie Keeps Riffing!, by Dave Doyle
Jazz Royalty Remembered: Prince Robinson, by Andrew J. Sammut
Complete Louis Columbia and RCA Studio Sessions, review by Scott Yanow
The Professor Speaks! Our Interview with Adrian Cunningham, by Schaen Fox
Banjoist Jim Jones on the Mend After Stroke
Getting Happily Together: How Maria Muldaur Met Tuba Skinny, by Russ Tarby
Happy Days (for Dancers) Are Here Again, by Dave Doyle
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Don Murray, illustration by Joe Busam
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
Quarter Notes, by Shelly Gallichio
The Professor is IN: There Goes Another Gig, by Adrian Cunningham
Ragtime Vignettes: The Wagon Wheel, reviewed by Brandon Byrne
Charlie Carson Records in the Far East, by R.S. Baker
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco
The Haenschen-Joplin Connection: a Readers’ Exchange
Profiles in Jazz: Red Norvo and Mildred Bailey, by Scott Yanow
Blowing off the Dust: Stepping Out Of the Shade, by Larry Melton
Ain’t Cha Got Music: Panama, Part 1, by Jeff Barnhart & Hal Smith
Second Hand Rows, by Randi Cee
Maria Muldaur, Tuba Skinny Collaborate on “Happy” Project, by Russ Tarby
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
Pandemonium by the Black Swan Jazz Band, reviewed byBert Thompson
Diplomacy in Swing, review by Dave Doyle
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD reviews by Joe Bebco