Clancy Hayes: Some Favorite Recordings
Hal Smith: Jeff, last month we agreed to talk about some of our favorite recordings by the great traditional jazz vocalist Clancy Hayes. In your
Ken Peplowski: Remembering a Magnificent Reedman
On February 3rd, I went out to shovel snow and buy some groceries. When I got back home, I checked messages. The first, just two
Bill Charlap On Finding Teddy Wilson’s Legendary Work
Teddy Wilson looms over early jazz piano, just as Bill Charlap does today. It is unsurprising that Mr. Charlap, who in addition to his performing
Jazz in 1940s Chicago: The McPartlands at the Brass Rail
Wednesday Night, July 2nd, 1947 I returned to the Chicago loop via fast electric coach from the University of Chicago on the South Side and
A Touch of Optimism
It occurred to me looking back on my most recent columns that I’ve significantly diverged from my initial intent of sharing inspirational content. While I’ve
All Because It’s Carnival Time!
When Al Johnson recorded that song in December, 1959, I’m sure he had no idea it would be recreated thousands of times since and certainly
Lambert Cylinders: Indestructible and Intriguing
Most recording companies of the acoustic era can be relatively well tracked in terms of their locations and employees, but there is one that still
Mosaic Records • Classic Earl Hines Sessions 1928-1945
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH Earl Hines (1903-83) was always a true original. When he emerged on the scene in the 1920s, he sounded unlike
Ricky Alexander • Ragology
Clarinetist Ricky Alexander’s fourth album as a leader (following Just Found Joy, Strike Up The Band, and I’m In Love Again) straddles the often-artificial boundaries
Chris Hopkins Meets The Young Lions Vol. 2 – Live
A top-notch swing and classic jazz pianist based in Germany, Chris Hopkins is also an excellent alto-saxophonist. In 2025 he released an album on his
Phonographic Yearbook 1903: ’Twas On The Good Ship Cuspidor
Archeophone, the top label in reissuing pre-1920 music, has 23 CDs in their very valuable series of Phonographic Yearbooks. The program consists of two volumes
Billy Butterfield: Profiles in Jazz
A superb all-round trumpeter, Billy Butterfield had a warm tone, strong technical skills, and a versatile style that found him equally at home playing swing,
Rebecca Kilgore Talks About Her Influences, Critics, and Challenges
Vocalist Rebecca Kilgore (1949-2026) was interviewed by Monk Rowe on September 3, 1997, at the Allegheny Jazz Party, Chautauqua, NY, (Interview courtesy Fillius Jazz Archive,
Lee Morse • Echoes of a Songbird
I had never heard of Miss Morse until recently when a few “soundies” came up in my YT feed one day. I was quite impressed
Dániel Szabó • Ragged
In the enclosed liner notes, the pianist states, “…let’s make it clear: I’m not a professional pianist. And I never even wished to become one.
Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Genius of James P. Johnson
What does it mean to be underappreciated in jazz? Most of us can name several musicians we think might not be getting their due. I
Tribute to George Smith
I spent a lot of time with George Smith and I want to share my memories of him. Our family moved here in 1999 and
Tribute to Paul Ingle
It is with great sadness that I learned of Paul Ingle’s passing. Paul Ingle first visited our festival in 2018 at the urging of John
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Rosetta Tharpe was born Rosetta Nubin, March 20, 1915, in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. At age six, Tharpe had joined her mother as a regular performer
Floyd “Uncle Floyd” Vivino (1951–2026)
Floyd Vivino, known professionally as “Uncle Floyd,” died on January 22, 2026; he was 74. A pianist, television host, and entertainer, he became a regional
Falling Up the Rabbit Hole
While laying out the current issue I experienced a brief and welcome respite from all the external sources of static that have polluted this column
The Festival Roundup March 2026
44th annual JAZZ BASH BY THE BAY (Monterey, CA) March 6-8 The 44th annual Jazz Bash By the Bay Monterey takes place March 6-8, 2026
Basin Street Regulars Scholarships at the Teagarden Jazz Camp
The Basin Street Regulars, Inc. By-Laws state: “….the Corporation is organized and operated for: a. Preserving and promoting traditional jazz. b. Providing a common meeting
Harvey Belair: A Tale of a 1920s Drummer
In my musings of New England’s often untapped early jazz history over the past couple of years, I made the pleasant discovery of a percussionist
Help Sponsor a Young Musician to the NOLA Trad Jazz Camp
In 2026 the New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp will celebrate its 16th anniversary. According to NOTJC Executive Director Banu Gibson, 1217 students from around the
As Long as They Can Blow: Interracial Jazz Recordings and Other Jive Before 1935
Sometime in my mid-teens as my interests in jazz began to take shape, I become aware of the story that racial integration in jazz began
The 2026 JEN Conference: Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
Every other year, the annual conference of the Jazz Education Network (JEN) is held in New Orleans. This past January was such an occasion, and
Matthew de Lacey Davidson’s Three Ineffable Rags (2026)
Matthew de Lacey Davidson’s latest composition (Three Ineffable Rags, 2026) is a suite of three short piano rags. Davidson’s tonal style is dissonant yet soft-edged.
Red Norvo Septet • The Secret Session
Red Norvo started his jazz career playing xylophone, which isn’t a very shouty instrument, but he was forward-thinking and harmonically inventive enough to enhance any
San Diego Jazz Party 2026 February 20-22, 2026 at the San Diego Hilton Del Mar
The San Diego Jazz Party, now in it’s 38th year, features today’s leading mainstream jazz performance artists from around the world. Presented in an intimate
Angela Verbrugge • In the Wonder of the Night
Canadian vocalist Angela Verbrugge is still a relatively new presence on the international jazz scene, but one whose commitment is no longer in question. Since
The Phonographic Yearbook 1903: “‘Twas on the Good Ship Cuspidor”
Archeophone’s Phonographic Yearbook 1903: “’Twas on the Good Ship Cuspidor” benefits enormously from something that might seem incidental but turns out to be liberating: the
Pianist Peter Mintun: The Talk of the Town
Long before anyone used the word “retro,” pianist Peter Mintun fell in love with music from the decades before he was born. And he has
Still More Musicians Who Inspired Us
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, this afternoon I sat wondering if we’re being indulgent with a third installment of strolling together down our respective (but on occasion
Jack Pettis • His Pets, Band, and Orchestra
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH Although Jack Pettis never became a major name, he was one of the top tenor and C-melody saxophonists of the
Two from Chip Deffaa
Chip Deffaa has gained fame as a prolific playwright and a producer of plays and recordings. He wrote for the New York Post for 18
The Rag Messengers • Grand Boubousse
The Rag Messengers consists of Exequiel Celada on clarinet and soprano-sax, pianist Auguste Caron, and drummer Orphélie Luminti. The trio is very much in the
Sophie Tucker • Red Hot Mama
Today, Sophie Tucker (1886-1966) is primarily remembered for being billed as “The Last Of The Red Hot Mamas” and for introducing her trademark song “Some
Yvonnick Prené • Un Harmonia Pour Django
The only time that Django Reinhardt recorded with a harmonica player was on May 31, 1938, when Larry Adler was joined by the Quintet of
To Becky, With Love
This month the world—I can’t limit this to only the jazz community—lost an incredible person. One of the gentlest people I ever met also possessed
Joe Muranyi on his Beginnings, Trad Jazz, and Louis Armstrong
Clarinetist Joe Muranyi was born in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio on January 14, 1928. He worked as a record producer for major labels and played alongside
Muggsy Spanier: Profiles in Jazz
Cornetist Muggsy Spanier always had a distinctive sound, was consistently enthusiastic in his playing, and was very reliable whether leading a Dixieland ensemble or taking
Concerto for Cootie: The Life and Times of Cootie Williams
The genesis of this work occurred in 2010 when Steven Bowie dreamt that he was in a book store with Cootie Williams. When he asked
Clancy Hayes: The Swinging Minstrel By Chris Reid with Hal Smith
I first became aware of vocalist/banjoist/guitarist extraordinaire Clancy Hayes through my obsession with the Original Salty Dog Jazz Band. When I purchased a copy of
P. S. Gilmore: Pioneer on the Bandstand and in the Studio
If you were a young musician in the late 19th century, you most likely would have aspirations to be in Gilmore’s band. This band was
Trumpeter Joe Wilder: From ‘Little Louis’ to NEA Jazz Master
Eventually, the National Endowment for the Arts entitled Joe Wilder as their Jazz Master, but first he was called “’Little Louis” because he was playing
You’ve Never Had King Cake?
We are heading back to New Orleans next week and looking forward to the Carnival tradition of King Cake…and some oysters of course! The round
Benched: Jazz Stories by Bill Anschell
Jazz and comedy have always been intertwined. No surprise. Both are rooted in a sense of timing, creating a personal voice, living a life on
