Defne Incirlioglu’s Roots Journey from Ankara to NOLA
Busking in NYC The “Good Old New York” that Jelly Roll Morton wrote about has served as an evident launch-pad of hot jazz and its
Eddie Durham: Jazz Pioneer, Innovator, and Virtuoso
Eddie Durham was born in 1906 in San Marcos, a small, rural horse and buggy town formed in 1808 and located in Hays County, Texas,
‘There’s [MISTER] MICHAEL McQUAID!’
Yes, that’s what I once whisper-yelled to my siblings during a concert, as recorded in my vignette. Too many thrills were happening for the first
Louisa ‘Blue Lu’ Barker Was More Than a Blues Singer
When I’m not writing about jazz, I’m a kids’ science educator. It’s true—since 2020 I’ve run a small business which delivers workshops and parties to
Edmond ‘Doc’ Souchon: Surgeon, Musician, and Legend
Jeff Barnhart: Well, Hal, you’ve done it again. I’ve been grooving on the selections you chose to share the music and story of Edmond Souchon: banjoist,
Rebecca Kilgore • A Little Taste
Ever since she made her recording debut during 1981-83 and particularly since the early 1990s, Rebecca Kilgore has been one of jazz’s top swing singers.
Charlie Parker • Bird in Kansas City
Given saxophonist Charlie Parker’s renown, you might think his career was extremely well documented, In fact, although he was already a known quantity by about
New Music Abounding in Maine
Hello friends! It’s been a while since I’ve shared the trad jazz happenings in Maine—though, certainly, not due to a lack of goings on. In
From the Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee 2024
We attended the 9th Annual Celebration of the Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee over Labor Day weekend. There were eight in our group, with six of
Lionel Hampton: Profiles in Jazz, Part 2
By 1941, Lionel Hampton (who turned 33 that year) was quite famous. His exuberant playing with the Benny Goodman Quartet and Sextet and his series
One Hundred Sets Amidst Tall Trees: The Redwood Coast Music Fest
“If I had the wings of an angel,” goes the old song. I would have needed wings to enjoy all the music at the 2024
Music Publishers and Recording Companies
When looking through acoustic era recordings, it can be easy to assume that the more common songs we see must have sold well in sheet
Jazz With A Beat by Tad Richards
Which music qualifies as jazz has been a hot topic for over a hundred years. From the beginning there were attempts to both define and
Ruth Etting
Ruth Etting was born on November 23, 1896, in David City, Nebraska. Etting was interested in drawing at an early age; she drew and sketched
The Festival Roundup November 2024
The Final ARIZONA CLASSIC JAZZ FESTIVAL (Chandler, AZ) – Oct 31-Nov. 3 Scheduled performers: Howard Alden, Cheryl’s Vintage Jazz with special guests Dan Levinson &
Consider the Banjo
Dear kind and patient readers: This entry of my column is a love letter of appreciation to all of YOU, a tidy number of whom
Hot Channels: When Jazz Was on Television
Jazz fans in the 21st century enjoy jazz primarily by listening to recordings on LPs, CDs, music streaming services, and by attending live performances in
Trudgeon’s Trad Jazz Troubadours
I live in South West England, amidst the glorious rolling green hills of the Cotswolds—or, more accurately, the scruffier end of a medium-sized town in
The Hot Toddies Jazz Band • Triple Step
It’s only been a few months since I reviewed The Hot Toddies’ self-titled debut album, which was released last year. I’d like to think that
Bob Bequillard of the GJB has died
Bob Bequillard, drummer for Connecticut’s famous Galvanized Jazz Band passed away on October 11th, he was 92. An accountant by day he was also a
Tubist Bob Bauchens has died
Bob Bauchens, a tubist who played at Your Father’s Mustache in the 1970s and would go on to found ARTRA Artist Management passed away on
Brian Towers of Toronto’s Hot Five Jazzmakers has died
Brian Towers, tailgate trombonist and vocalist for Toronto’s Hot Five Jazzmakers died this summer. He left England in 1969, emigrating to Canada for work. In
Barbara Dane
Singer, songwriter, and activist Barbara Dane has died at age 97. In a career spanning 80 years she played folk, blues, world music, and, of
Veteran jazzman Jon Seiger has died at 63
Jon Seiger, a gifted and versatile jazzman, died Friday, September 13, in Rochester, NY. He was 63 years old. For more than a decade Seiger
Central PA Ragtime & Music Fest 2024
The 15th annual Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival this year continued a change begun last year. This festival is held in mid- to
Gunhild Carling • Jazz is my Lifestyle
I’ve mentioned Swedish songstress and multi-instrumentalist marvel Gunhild Carling here more than once before, generally citing her as an example of either a uniquely superb
Igor Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale
Igor Stravinsky’s theatrical chamber work A Soldier’s Tale (L’histoire du soldat in French, 1918) is widely considered a masterpiece of 20th century music. Musicians such
Louis Vasnier • Genius of the Seventh Ward
To my knowledge, their new King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band boxed set, Centennial, is the first time Archeophone has included full size LPs in a
Centennial: King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
Jazz, the unique and defining music of the United States, evolved throughout the 19th century, with New Orleans its epicenter, but couldn’t gain general-public attention
Don’t Expect it to Make Sense
Would you rather be a jellyfish or a cloud? It has to be one or the other. If you opt out of the choice or
Letters: November 2024
In Praise of Nathan Tokunaga To the Editor: Lew Shaw’s profile of Nathan Tokunaga in your October issue diligently covered all his accomplishments. But I
The Complete Keynote Collection
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH One of the most remarkable reissues ever put out was the 21-LP box set The Complete Keynote Collection. Originally a
Ella Logan • The Scottish Volcano
Ella Logan (1913-1969) was a versatile singer and actress who was always a bit difficult to pin down. She could sing jazz, dramatic ballads, songs
Hot Toddies Jazz Band • Triple Step
Founded in 2019, the Hot Toddies Jazz Band is a popular swing group based in New York that is led by drummer Patrick Soluri and
The French Preservation Hall New Orleans Jazz Band • Live In Belgium
Some recordings are a pure joy to hear. The French Preservation Hall New Orleans Jazz Band specializes in music that at its best is a
The First Ladies Of Jazz And Swing
The Upbeat label has, under the guidance of its founder-producer Liz Biddle, been reissuing gems from the past in their “Great Jazz” series which is
Jazz Clarinet Phenom Nathan Tokunaga is Going Places!
In just a little over a dozen years, 17-year-old Nathan Tokunaga has had opportunities and experiences that many adult musicians don’t have in a lifetime.
America Grapples with the First Decade of Jazz
I think it’s safe to say that most of us jazz enthusiasts are viewed by the youth of today as amusing yet hopelessly insulated from
Gunhild Carling • Jazz Is My Lifestyle
There is no other performer on the jazz scene quite like Gunhild Carling. It is not enough that she is able to sing in several
The New York-Barcelona Connection: The EarRegulars at Jazzing, 2024
The theme of this year’s 11th annual Jazzing Fest in Barcelona, hosted as always by the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, was dubbed “The New York-Berlin-Barcelona
King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band • Centennial
Centennial is quite possibly the most important, well-conceived and created reissue of recent times. Not only is it a masterful, quality product, but it presents
Lionel Hampton: Profiles in Jazz, Pt. 1
Lionel Hampton, the first significant jazz vibraphonist in history, was a one-of-a-kind entertainer. He would do almost anything to excite audiences and it was impossible
Jazz at the Ballroom • Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared
I’d never heard of non-profit Jazz at the Ballroom before today. I’m glad I finally got wise to them, as they’ve been busily celebrating “America’s
Nothin’ Like A Fine Bix Festival
The Big Spider Back—I mean Bix Beiderbecke—Jazz Festival took off on August 1st through 3rd, congregating enthusiastic folks back to Davenport, Iowa, including my mum
Hannah Gill’s Spooky Jazz
Halloween jazz is hard to find. That’s probably because the explosion of popular Christmas material coincided with jazz ubiquity in the first half of the
From Piano to Orchestra: The Evolution of Accompaniment
In the beginning of recording, among the first things to be recorded regularly were orchestras. Recording so many different instruments was perfected and improved upon
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra • Cake Walk In The Sky
Listening to the first track—Geoge L. Cobb’s Stop It! (1919)—I was thrilled by the orchestra’s precision and its ability to bring out unexpected details and
Mathilde Febrer • Milou En Mai
The French violinist Mathilde Febrer has had a wide-ranging career. Although trained in classical music, jazz interested her much more. She has performed with rock
