John Pizzarelli: Rhythm is his (Family) Business
John Pizzarelli’s memoir, World on a String makes it seem that his destiny was written in “gallons of red sauce simmering in immense vats on
Jazz is Where You Find It: Fest Jazz 2025 in Brittany
It has been our pleasure over the years to combine sight-seeing trips abroad with visits to diverse jazz clubs, festivals, and concerts in Ascona, Edinburgh,
Drawing a Cautionary Tale
As this year winds down, I’m taking stock on where I’ve come, where I hope to be going, and with whom I’ve so far shared
The Count Basie Trombonists 1936-40
When one thinks of the classic Count Basie Orchestra of 1936-40, the tenor-saxophonists (Lester Young and either Herschel Evans or Buddy Tate), the trumpeters (most
The Jazz Bands that Inspired Us
Jeff Barnhart: Folks, you’ve been with Hal and me for years now as we forensically dissect various bands’ and musicians’ outputs as well as offer
Autumn in New York? No, New Orleans!
Although the government shutdown was in effect, our flights to New Orleans were very much on time. We unpacked and immediately walked the two blocks
‘We Go for That’: The Redwood Coast Music Festival (Oct. 2-5, 2025)
My title comes from a Thirties phrase for “I really like that,” found in a wonderful Frank Loesser left-handed love song (“Your fuzzy hair, your
I Touched Every Base: The Autobiography of Blue Steele
Blue Steele and His Orchestra recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Company between August 26, 1927, and May 16, 1930, resulting in 16 discs. His
No Pennies, No Thoughts—Christmas!
The last ever US penny was minted on November 12, 2025, and my last ever expressible thought occurred at approximately the same time. I can’t
Jazz Jottings December 2025
After 23 years as co-directors of the Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival, Carol and Jeff Loehr are handing the reigns over to Steve and
King of Them All: The Story of King Records (2025)
People interested in popular music always welcome films that dig into the history of the music they love. A recent documentary about King Records, King
Doc Cheatham on Armstrong, Goodman, and his Early Career
Following are excerpts from the Fillius Jazz Archive interview with Doc (Adolphus Anthony) Cheatham (1905-1997) New York City, July 28,1995: First recordings Monk Rowe: Can
The Festival Roundup December 2025
32th Annual EAGLES AND IVORIES RAGTIME FEST (Muscatine, IA) – Jan. 15-18 The 32nd Annual Eagles & Ivories Music Fest is staged in Muscatine, Iowa,
Glenn Miller: A Memorial
CLASSIC JAZZ ALBUM OF THE MONTH No swing band during the big band era had more hits than Glenn Miller’s, not Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw,
Art Van Damme • The King Of Jazz Accordion
Art Van Damme (1920-2010) may not have been the first jazz accordionist (Buster Moten took short solos with his brother Bennie’s band in the 1920s),
Tatum Langley • Tatum’s Swingin’ Session!!!
Tatum Langley is a Chicago-based singer who has performed both in jazz and in musical theater settings including in London and Australia with Postmodern Jukebox.
Presenting Don Goldie
Trumpeter Don Goldie (1930-95) is probably best remembered for his association with Jack Teagarden for he was a member of the trombonist’s last working group
Loren Schoenberg and his Jazz Orchestra • So Many Memories
Eddie Sauter (1914-81) was one of the most innovative arrangers to come up during the Swing era. In addition to his work for Artie Shaw
Judy Whitmore • Christmas
Judy Whitmore’s Christmas sits in a different universe from the other holiday records in this batch, but that isn’t a drawback. She’s not trying to
The Mad Hat Hucksters • Holly Jolly Christmas
The Mad Hat Hucksters have always been a band that treats swing as a living vernacular rather than a museum dialect, which is why holiday
Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Nine • The Christmas EP
Having nine players instead of her usual smaller lineup gives Chelsea Reed’s The Christmas EP a warmth and fullness that feels exactly right for the
Jon-Erik Kellso, Harry Allen, James Chirillo • Lush Life: Christmas in New York
Note: I have learned since writing the below that rights holders, aka record labels, are putting out releases on Bandcamp under the artist’s name, giving
Classic Decca Recordings of Bob Crosby and His Orchestra and Bob Cats 1936-42
A big clue to understanding this band lies in the fact that Bob Crosby isn’t on the box set’s cover. It’s the first artist-centered Mosaic
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary “Bunk” Johnson was born December 27, 1889. Johnson was the youngest of 14 children. He had been schooled in sight reading and improvisation
Jacob Adams’ Three Piano Rags Op. 47
In the summer of 2024 Jacob Adams wrote Three Piano Rags Op. 47 and dedicated them to me (thank you, Jacob!). No. 2 in D
Scott Joplin: Piano Rags by Alexander Peskanov
Alexander Peskanov is a Ukrainian composer, pedagogue, and powerhouse pianist. His 2004 recording of Scott Joplin for Naxos (Naxos 8.559114) is highly virtuosic, sometimes to
From the 2025 Central PA Ragtime Festival
The 16th Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival took place, as usual, at several venues in Huntingdon County on September 18-21. While most events
Bix Society Joins Forces with Common Chord for 55th Bix Fest
Common Chord and the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Society are excited to announce a merger of the two organizations. After years of close partnership, Bix Society
John Joyce: A Punk Rocker Embraces NOLA Street Jazz
“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.” – Oliver Cromwell Early days as a punk in Minneapolis Born
A ‘Mount Rushmore’ of Jazz Musicians?
Only one U.S. president came close to becoming a jazz musician. Bill Clinton has often humorously stated that, while playing the tenor-sax as a teenager,
Blues Songs at the Turn of the 20th Century
We all know the blues, a musical genre that includes a 12-bar verse and chorus. While this is true, in the early 20th century, this
Bob Draga: 1947 – 2025
Bob Draga was a larger-than-life personality as well as a superb musician. You never knew what you were going to get when he was on
The Boswell Legacy (Second Edition)
Kyla Titus’s 2014 biography, co-authored posthumously in part with her mother Chica Boswell Minnerly, The Boswell Legacy: The Story of the Boswell Sisters of New
Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson was born in Austin, Texas, on November 24, 1912. Under his parents’ tutelage, his early music education began at the age six with
‘…And Get Your One Last Thrill…’
After more than a half-century of performing ragtime and Dixieland jazz, I thought I’d experienced all of the musical high spots. Among other things, I’d
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band • Live At Birdland
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band was founded and is co-led by pianist Conal Fowkes and trumpeter Simon Wettenhall. Long-time musical friends, they were
Stacey Kent: An International Career Sparked by Serendipity
Her story reads something like a fairy tale: Young scholar becomes overnight international jazz star. It even includes the element of the unknown singer championed
Frog and Henry: Two more Albums
Discovering a band that resonates with you is like the early days of a love affair, everything after is measured against that spark. You discover
‘Smiley’ Wallace, Beloved in Ragtime Community, Dies at 93
When Mary Grace Lanese called to tell me “Smiley” Wallace had died at age 93, on October 2, delightful memories of a long friendship with
Remembering Bob Draga
On September 23, I lost a person very important to me on many levels. Bob Draga’s passing closed a lengthy chapter of my life. Whether
An Ode to an Oyster…
Getting ready to spend a few weeks in New Orleans and already craving some oysters! Our go-to place is Acme Oyster House on Iberville near
The Festival Roundup November 2025
AUTUMN EXIT ZERO JAZZ FESTIVAL (Cape May, NJ) – Nov. 7-9 The 2025 Autumn Exit Zero Jazz Festival takes place in Cape May, NJ., November
Kid Ory with Barney Bigard on Columbia, 1946
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, we’ve been having great fun listening to the 1945 sides made by trombonist Kid Ory and his marvelous band. I have to think
A Few Words with… Freddie Gavita
Freddie Gavita won the 2017 British Jazz Award for Best Trumpeter. He holds the Trumpet seat at Ronnie Scott’s and has featured at the BBC
Bude and Gunton Hall: Contrasting Jazz Festivals in the UK
This year our annual visit to England covered two very different Jazz events. First was Bude for our fifth year. For four days at the
Caity Gyorgy with Strings
When Caity Gyorgy won her second JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, jealous critics crawled out of their hidey holes to diminish
Carolina Reapers Swing • Built Different
When it comes to dancing, I don’t get around much any more. I had the option of going out last weekend, but I opted to
Pharoah Sanders • The Complete Theresa Recordings
You’re probably not going to like this set. But I don’t want to underestimate you. To make the critical balancing act worse, I don’t want
