Phyllis McGuire, last of the McGuire Sisters, has Died
Phyllis McGuire died on December 29th, she was 89. The youngest of the McGuire Sisters she was the star of the group, always seen in
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Fundraiser started to Save Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club in Times Square
The global pandemic has taken its toll on the great music venues of NYC, including the world’s beloved Big Band Swing headquarters, Swing 46 Jazz
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Burt Wilson, leader of the Silver Dollar Jazz Band, has passed
Burt Wilson, trombonist and leader of the Silver Dollar Jazz Band died of Covid-19 on January 6th, he was 87. While in college he arranged
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David “Red” Lehr of the St. Louis Rivermen has Died
David “Red” Lehr died on January 5th, he was 83. He was from a musical family with his mother playing piano for their church and
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Bassist Jen Hodge is in the Groove!
It’s tempting to describe Jen Hodge—female bassist, bandleader, composer, arranger and singer—as a rare phenomenon. But that’s not how she saw herself, growing up surrounded
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Long Live the King (Oliver, That Is!)
In my opinion, King Oliver doesn’t really receive the credit he is due. He’s all too often treated as a “stop along the way” for
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James P. Johnson and the Birth of Modern Jazz Piano
January 10, 2021, Another Milestone Anniversary Not To Be Forgotten The centennial of the Jazz Age is upon us, and it has been commemorated with
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Yank Lawson and Bob Haggart: Profiles in Jazz
Trumpeter Yank Lawson and bassist-composer Bob Haggart, while having separate careers, were musical friends and collaborators for nearly six decades. They came together during at
12th Street Rag: A Three Million Seller
Jeff Barnhart: Well, Hal, I am excited to delve into Euday Bowman’s “12th Street Rag” with you! Before we start chewing over the myriad interpretations
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Classic Jazz Vocalist Carol Leigh has died
Carol Leigh (Whitman), highly-regarded classic jazz vocalist, died December 22nd. Carol was a consummate performer of both familiar and obscure 20’s jazz and blues tunes,
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Casa Loma Orchestra: A Vanguard of Swing
At the outset of the Swing era, Casa Loma Orchestra set the highest standards for superb musicianship, arranging, presentation, sweet ballads and hard-driving dance rhythms.
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Apostle of Shellac: Mathew “Fat Cat” Rivera
Born in 1996, in Louisville, Kentucky, Matthew Rivera is making jazz vibrate to new audiences in many ways. I met him first as a sound-phenomenon
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Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s by Kimberly Truhler
Most books about the history of Hollywood costume fall roughly into two categories; either a profile of an individual designer, or a general history of
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Tony Desare: Songbook Comforts in Quarantine
When the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, like thousands of musicians, Tony DeSare saw his jammed packed tour schedule quickly dwindle down to
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The Complete Pete Stanton’s Stone Age Jazz Band (3 CD)
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen And waste its sweetness on the desert air. ― Thomas Gray, An Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard
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The Best of 2020
Features Artist Profiles From our Monthly Columns
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Chris Hopkins Meets the Jazz Kangaroos
Pianist Chris Hopkins, an American who has spent much of his life based in Germany where he leads Echoes Of Swing, meets up with three
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5th Anniversary of The Syncopated Times
It doesn’t seem like five full years since the first issue of The Syncopated Times began appearing in our mailboxes. Since the February 2016 issue,
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Peter Nissen’s New Orleans Jazz Band • Bon Voyage, Jacques: Jacques Gauthé in Retrospect
It’s not often a traditional jazz band of conventional size—six or seven pieces, usually—lacks a horn in its front line, but such is the case
Songs To Think About… But Perhaps Not To Dance To
Here in the UK, speech isn’t entirely free. The right to offend whomever we want isn’t enshrined in statute, as in the US Constitution. We
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Classic Album of the Month • Ridin’ In Rhythm
Although it was compiled 35 years ago and released by the DRG label, the two-CD set Ridin’ In Rhythm is still difficult to top. At
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Museums and Meetings and All That Jazz
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is strategically located in the Old U.S. Mint—built in 1838—at the juncture of the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street where
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Sweet Mary Cat & Their North American Friends • Time To Dance Some More
This CD picks up where the same group’s previous one, Jazz Crusade JCCD3079, left off, the first six tracks here being from that same recording
Jazz Jottings January 2021
In late November, the City of New Orleans announced regulations regarding the permitting process to host live entertainment in indoor and outdoor settings. All live
Deborah Silver • Glitter & Grits
A highly appealing singer who has overcome some major health problems to make a full comeback, Deborah Silver had strong success with her previous album,
My Time With The Nighthawks
Such is the nature of pandemia—with its unapologetic ravaging of one’s gigging calendar—that to find inspiration, it can be useful to look backwards. And lately
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Katy Hobgood Ray feat. Dave Ray • I Dream of Water
When “Louisiana” and “music” are mentioned in the same breath, for many people the conjunction suggests “jazz.” But Louisiana is also known for bluegrass, blues,
Another Thrilling Episode!
I begin to think I should rename this column “The Crisis of the Month.” A crisis is not necessarily a bad thing, but it demands
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West London Rhythm Kings • Remembering Dave Evans
Following the release about a year ago of the CD New Orleans Jazz: Remembering Doug Kennedy, a tribute to their late banjo/guitarist, the West London
Lew Shaw
This month we celebrate one of our own: Lew Shaw, who turns 95 on January 14, and whose latest installment of Jazz Jottings may be
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Remembering Those We Lost in 2020
A chronological list of all of our final chorus remembrances from 2020.
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Drew Nugent • Just the Trio Us
Drew Nugent learned piano as a child and was initially attracted to ragtime. As a teenager, he added the cornet while his interest shifted towards
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Lew Shaw Still on the Beat at 95
Lew Shaw thanks his lucky stars that he was born in 1926. That meant he came of age—as a man and as a music fan—at
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Andre Villeger & Philippe Milanta • For Duke And Paul
Duke Ellington had many sidemen who stayed with him for lengthy periods, topped by baritonist Harry Carney who was part of the Duke Ellington Orchestra
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Bass Drum Conundrum
In the 19th century, the bass drum in military bands was essential. The use of bass drums continued into the earliest days of recording, but
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Coot Grant – singer and vaudevillian
If one does not recognize the name of Coot Grant and her vaudeville partner Kid Wilson, aka Sox Wilson and other aliases, one can be
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Axel Schlosser • To Satch and Duke
Axel Schlosser is a talented trumpeter from Germany. While he played the clarinet and saxophone early on in a Dixieland band, he switched his focus
Charlotte Dickison on her 25 years with the Olympia Jazz Festival
Charlotte Dickison retired as director of the Olympia Jazz Festival after the 2019 edition. She made many friends from all over the US and Canada
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From the Virtual West Coast Ragtime Festival
I remember reading Bill Hoffman’s fine column last year in The Syncopated Times describing his first visit to a West Coast Ragtime Festival (WCRF) and
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Crawfish Wallet • I’m in NOLA
I can’t imagine that any other cultural phenomenon has had the same impact as jazz, worldwide. I know I’m expected to think that, as a
The Festival Roundup January 2021
Events that have officially cancelled or switched to a live stream format are included below. Do not interpret an event not being on this list
Grammy Nominations for Rivermont and Archeophone
The Grammy Awards telecast doesn’t offer much for jazz fans, particularly not for fans of early jazz styles. But there are a couple of winners
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: An In Depth Review
This film has received a lot of kudos and I can understand why: it’s an excellent piece of filmmaking. There are no energy let-downs throughout
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Jeff Clayton dies at 66
Alto Saxophonist and flautist Jeff Clayton died from Kidney cancer of December 17th. He was 66 years old. He trained on oboe and English horn
Stimulus Act Includes Money For Struggling Venues and Festivals
Buried within the Stimulus Bill is a 15 Billion dollar lifeline for venues that host live events. Jazz societies that pay performers to appear at
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Jazz Puzzles Vol. 4 now available for preorder
Jazz’Edit is a project by European record collector Jean-François Villetard to help publish important books about jazz history in the limited quantities the market will
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Dan Zeilinger’s Trad Jazz Today brings excellent interviews to YouTube.
It’s easy to have a great idea. Seeing the idea to fruition is another thing entirely. I couldn’t tell you how many podcasts and similar
Simeon Davis Group • Bah Humbug: An Absolutely Unnecessary Christmas Album
Want some traditional Christmas music that’s somewhat jazzy and doesn’t sound like what you’ll hear when shopping at your favorite department store? Like the challenge
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