Assessing the Louis Armstrong Story: Ricky Riccardi’s Trilogy
Around the time Louis Armstrong moved from a big band to a small-group setting in 1947, grumblings were being heard. At first, it came from
The Firehouse Five Plus Two: Variations on Some Themes
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, we both enjoyed listening to the Firehouse Five’s first “themed” album, The FH5+2 Goes South, last month that we agreed to cover
Nanna Carling • Melodies for Two
Nanna Carling’s Melodies For Two, released on February 14, 2025, is a romantic collection of her original compositions. Coming from the Carling family of Swedish
The Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band • Prawn Shop
The Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band is a popular New Orleans group cutting their own path through the Crescent City since 2009. While rooted in traditional
Dandelion Stompers • Whirlwind Sessions Vol. I & II
My impression of the Dandelion Stompers is heavily influenced by a late fall experience at the family camp. We spent the day closing things up
Chris Hopkins Meets The Young Lions – Live Vol. 1
A superb swing and classic pianist (he held his own with Dick Hyman on a duo piano album), Chris Hopkins is based in Germany where
Harry Allen, Rossano Sportiello, and Bryan Carter • It Takes 3
The combination of tenor-saxophonist Harry Allen, pianist Rossano Sportiello, and drummer Bryan Carter (who takes an occasional vocal) is certainly a hit throughout their new
Bela Fleck • Rhapsody In Blue
Bela Fleck has been undoubtedly the most remarkable banjo player of the past half-century, often taking his instrument to places it had never been before.
The Enchanting Guitar Of Oscar Moore
Oscar Moore (1916-81) will always be best remembered for being the guitarist with the Nat King Cole Trio during 1937-47. His tasteful and fluent guitar
Mary Lou Williams: Profiles in Jazz
Mary Lou Williams had a unique career. For much of her life she was called “jazz’s greatest female musician” but in reality she was simply
From the San Diego Jazz Party 2025
The San Diego Jazz Party held its annual event the weekend of February 21st and its 20+ musicians and vocalists made it an extremely memorable
Siblings in the Early Recording Industry
In several articles I have written about performers whose siblings got into recording, this seemed to have been a more common pattern than expected. To
The Jug Band Special: Rare & Hot Jug Band Recordings 1924-1939
Frog Records has quite a history of re-releasing early jug band music recordings, to their immense credit. Their catalogue features artists such as the Dixieland
Reviews Keep the Music Alive
Since TST co-editor, webmaster, and in-house reviewer Joe Bebco generally has a lot to say (and I generally don’t) I’m ceding the Static space to
The Festival Roundup April 2025
DURANGO RAGTIME & EARLY JAZZ FESTIVAL (Durango, CO) – April 3-6 JOIN US for the return of the Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival in
Ragtime composer Jack Rummel has passed away
Devoted Ragtimer Jack Rummel passed away on March 10th. Born in Tacoma Washington in 1939, he spent most of his musical life in Colorado but
Lawrence Ketchens
Lawrence Henry Ketchens II passed away on January 31, 2025; he was 61. A beloved figure in New Orleans, with his wife Doreen Ketchens he
David Johansen
David Johansen passed away on February 28th; he was 75. Johanson got his start doing sound and lights for Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theater Company and
Let the Chips Fall…
There’s often an uneasy relationship between a jazz band leader (and the members of their band) and clients. The simplest illustration is the steady gig,
Tommy Sancton, David Paquette, and Pam Pameijer • New Orleans Reunion
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH George Buck (1928-2013) recorded and released so many rewarding New Orleans jazz albums throughout his life that it is easy
Morey Feld swings, drives, then swings some more
Part One of this discussion of Morey Feld appeared in our March 2024 issue, and Part Two was published in May 2024. Hal Smith: Brother
A 1925 Playlist for Jazz Appreciation Month
April 2025 ushers in Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), a nationwide celebration of America’s homegrown musical treasure. Launched in 2001 by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
Trumpeter Paul Higgs Guides a History of Jazz at the Corn Hall in Diss, UK
If you ask any Englishman (or woman): “Have you heard of a town called Diss?” they will almost certainly say “no.” Even if you asked
The Mad Hat Hucksters • What’s the Matter with the Mill?
Sometimes, important stuff just gets busied out: I still haven’t put the tumble dryer back together, called someone to fix the dishwasher and, until today,
The Boswell Legacy: Two books and a film
The Boswell Sisters (Connie, Martha and Vet) were arguably the greatest jazz vocal group of all time, ranking at the top with the Mills Brothers
Tolkien’s Biographer Was Also a Pro Jazz Bassist
The joy of digging through thrift store vinyl crates is the prospect of discovering new arrangements, new songs, even new bands or composers which had
Jazz Radio America by Aaron J. Johnson
Author Aaron J. Johnson covers a lot of ground in Jazz Radio America, detailing the rise and fall of stations and their changing formats, the
The 2025 NYC Hot Jazz Camp
The 10th annual (except for 2020 when it was cancelled by Covid) New York Hot Jazz Camp convened at its regular home, the Greenwich House
Bud Freeman
Lawrence “Bud” Freeman was born April 13, 1906, in Chicago, Illinois. In 1922, Freeman and some friends from high school formed the Austin High School
George Winston: Lullaby (1991)
Personal disclosure: I very much miss George Winston. His artistry was an important formative influence on mine, and a Christmas card containing a note of
Gabriel Latchin Trio • The Man I Love
I don’t know about you, but I simply cannot focus on work if I haven’t got music on. As an undergrad, Miles Davis and Dave
Classic Vanguard Small Group Swing Sessions
With the rapid evolution of jazz and the emphasis on coming up with new ways to play the music, there have been periods when certain
Ryan Calloway: Master of Music, Art, and Dance
Hal Smith: Ryan, you can be contacted for original artwork, graphic design, swing dance instruction, to lead a band and to perform as a sideman.
The Palmetto Jazzerites: Steamboat Jazz on the Mississippi
Two steamboat jazz bands were the talk of the Mississippi River in 1920. One became famous. The other remains obscure. The famous band, of course,
Duke Ellington’s Singers, Part 2
Duke Ellington’s compositions have been sung so often, particularly those that he wrote prior to the early 1950s, that it is surprising that it was
The Firehouse 5+2: When ‘Goes South’ is a GOOD Thing!
Hal Smith: Jeff, This month’s column was intended to be the first in a series of articles about the New Black Eagle Jazz Band; a
Conversations with Bucky Pizzarelli
His guitar mastery made him a top first-call artist in the New York recording scene for decades. His quiet and friendly manner made one club
Frank Mazziotta: An Immigrant in Edison’s Studio
Before researching him, I had assumed that there wouldn’t be much on Frank S. Mazziotta, but I was wrong. As historians, we can only hope
Stomp Off, Let’s Go – The Early Years of Louis Armstrong
Ricky Riccardi, who has his dream job as the Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, began his trilogy of definitive Louis
Postcard from the Snowbelt
Aside from the weather and just about everything else, it’s been a good month. This is the sort of old-fashioned winter we had when I
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
Our January visit started off at Fritzel’s with Colin Myers (tb), Zach Lange (tp), Ellis Dyson (bj), Brett Gallo (dr) and Ted Long (bs). This
The Festival Roundup March 2025
43rd annual JAZZ BASH BY THE BAY (Monterey, CA) March 7-9 The 43rd annual Jazz Bash By the Bay Monterey takes place March 7-9, 2025,
Hamilton College’s Fillius Jazz Archive Celebrates 30 Years
Thirty years ago at Hamilton College in Kirkland, N.Y., Milt Fillius Jr. and his fiancé, Nelma “Nikki” Nenneau, teamed up with jazz singer Joe Williams
Locked Doors and Silences
Here are two points of view expressed by poets of unequal stature: Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard / Are sweeter . . .
Syncopated Media Needs Your Help
Ideas are the easy part. If we had a million dollars to promote hot jazz, ragtime, and swing we could find ways to use it.
My Three ‘Must-Get-Theres’
I’ll be ranting in this edition of “My Inspirations,” so if you’re (understandably) in the mood for some humor or uplift, you might want to
Beginnings and Endings at Monterey Jazz Bash: March 7-9, 2025
The Central Coast will be swinging again during the 45th Annual Jazz Bash by the Bay in Monterey, CA! This year’s event focuses on Hot
