Wynton Marsalis Accompanies Silent Film Louis on Tour
Before films began to talk, in the late 1920s, live musicians delivered the soundtracks for silent films. This was sometimes a single pianist or organist,
The New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Part One, with Stan Vincent
Stan Vincent created a playlist of all the tunes discussed in the below article. You may find it in full HERE. Jeff Barnhart: This month,
Eighty Years of the Dutch Swing College Band
I met a good friend for coffee the other day. I know she’s a good friend, because she turned up with a carrier bag full
A Joyous, Magical Jazz Bash in Monterey, California
My festival reports start with apologies for what I didn’t see. This time, I trust readers will let me to atone in private. The Jazz
Emmet Cohen Has a Lot to Say
Emmet Cohen is a multi-talented and innovative musician/pianist who captivates his audiences with style, panache and good humor. He began studying the piano at the
Buck Clayton • Profiles in Jazz
Buck Clayton is most famous today for his association with Count Basie but that is only a small part of his musical legacy, a seven-year
Meryl Zimmerman • Easy to Love
For the first time in my life, I’m actually in a jazz band. I should caveat that claim by saying that my maybe-bandmates haven’t yet
Caili O’Doherty • Bluer Than Blue
Lil Hardin Armstrong (1898-1971) deserves better from jazz history. While she remains famous for being Louis Armstrong’s second wife, and the pianist with King Oliver’s
Scott Hamilton • Looking Back
Ever since he burst upon the major league jazz scene in the mid-1970s, tenor-saxophonist Scott Hamilton has been one of the most consistent of all
Two Albums from Bryan Wright
Most reviews look at one particular release. This one doesn’t. Instead, I will compare two releases by the same pianist, with similar repertoire, but separated
A Study in Condition
When collecting records, we can only hope that each record we acquire plays well enough so we can enjoy its contents. Collecting acoustic era recordings
Tearing Apart the Arts
If you’re anything like me, you had “that friend” as a child. Not really a friend, but someone you knew at school or from the
Maxine Sullivan
Maxine Sullivan was born as Marietta Lillian Williams in Homestead, Pennsylvania, on May 13, 1911. As a teenager she sang on the radio in Pittsburgh
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, you need to experience it live.
At 5:15 pm on April 5, my partner asked, “are you going to that ragtime band tonight?” The concert had slipped my mind; I had
Edward Grogan
Edward Grogan passed away on April 5th; he was 98 years old. Born in Bolton, England, he was an officer of the Royal Navy during
Alvin Gotlieb
Alvin Maurice Gotlieb passed away on April 6th; he was 84. He grew up in a musical family that had an informal family band. He
Jitka Vrbova
Jitka Vrbova passed away on March 3rd; she was 84. A notable Czech vocalist, guitarist and sometimes actress she sang for Pražský Dixieland, Hot Jazz
Arbors Records Celebrates 35 Years of Jazz Excellence with Special Anniversary Sale
Arbors Records Celebrates 35 Years of Jazz Excellence with Special Anniversary Sale St. Petersburg, FL – [May 1, 2025] – Arbors Records, the distinguished independent jazz
The Festival Roundup May 2025
AHOY VINTAGE CRUISES: Matt Tolentino and his Orchestra (Southampton, UK – New York, NY) May 16-23, 2025 / Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra (Southampton,
Live Jazz in Tucson, AZ!
Spring begins early in Tucson and The Learning Curve (an adult education program) offered a four week class on The Magic & Music Quincy Jones,
Nightmare In The Pacific: The World War II Saga Of Artie Shaw and His Navy Band
Of all of the major jazz orchestra leaders of the 1930s and ’40s, Artie Shaw undoubtedly led the most big bands, six during 1936-49. His
Ben Pollack: This Great Drummer Really Sends Us!
Hal Smith: Brother Kevin, in our last column we agreed to write something about the “Daddy Of ‘Em All”—Ben Pollack. Besides his wonderful talent as
The Atlantic New Orleans Jazz Sessions
JAZZ CLASSIC OF THE MONTH While New Orleans traditional jazz has had several major revivals from the mid-1930s on, the opening of Preservation Hall in
Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys • Mutiny in the Parlor
After the minimalist musical joy that was reviewing a pared-down album, I was ready to hear something just a bit more symphonic. Enter stage left—and
Ella Fitzgerald • The Moment Of Truth
Ella Fitzgerald (1917-96) had a rough start to her life, living in poverty and actually being homeless for a period. However after winning the Apollo
Gabriel Latchin • The Man I Love
It is certainly not an understatement to say that George Gershwin (1898-1937) accomplished a great deal during his 38 years. Ranging from popular songs to
To Quote or Not to Quote?
In Jazz music of every era and style, there exists a tradition that delights some musicians and fans while vexing others. I’m referring to “the
Loving Mr. Ragtime: Max Morath By Diane Fay Skomars
When Andy Senior, esteemed editor of The Syncopated Times, and Larry Melton, a frequent contributor to this periodical and a founder of the Scott Joplin
Don Cantwell, Clarinetist, Bandleader, Passes at Age 100
Don Cantwell, beloved Central New York teacher and leader of the Clef Dwellers, passed away April 21, 2025, at the age of 100. Don was
A Tone Parallel to Duke Ellington by Jack Chambers
The standard biographical approach in which the subject is born, did remarkable things, then died gets upended by Jack Chambers’s new Duke Ellington book. Titled
From the Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival
The first weekend in April found me at the Durango (CO) Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival. This festival is a re-incarnation of a previous one
Awakening by Richard Egan
Awakening is the latest CD and sheet music folio from St. Louis composer Richard Egan. I very much enjoy this new collection of Egan’s original
Mosaic Boxed Set: Classic Vanguard Jazz Piano Sessions
Halfway through CD 3, which is given over to the protean Mel Powell, comes his Sonatina for Piano, nestled between the likes of “You’re Lucky
Richard Dowling • The Complete Piano Works of Scott Joplin: Rags, Waltzes, Marches
Generally speaking, I’m not a big fan of “complete works” albums (of any composer). It is a huge amount to ask of both the player
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
