Dan Levinson: The Indispensable Reedman
If it would be possible for a virtuoso reedman to step out of a jazz 78 in a kind of “Purple Rose of Cairo” moment,
Why are “Ma” Rainey’s recordings so important to the history of music?
Introduction Blues singer Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (née Pridgett) was born on April 26, 1886, in Columbus, Georgia, and died there on December 22, 1939.1 Advertising
Jimmie Lunceford: Profiles in Jazz
Of all of the successful big band leaders of the swing era, Jimmie Lunceford had one of the most unusual beginnings. While most leaders were
Bossa Nova Comes to Barcelona for Jazzing 2022
The seductive musical art form from Brazil known as bossa nova took up residence in Barcelona for the first week of September, as the Sant
Joe Oliver: Still the King (1926-1927)
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, after our in-depth exploration of a single tune, it’s time to broaden our scope to the music of the immortal Joe “King”
Downton Abbey Cast Dances to Cherise Adams-Burnett’s ‘Crazy Rhythm’
With a crystalline voice inspired by none other than Ella Fitzgerald, London jazz singer Cherise Adams-Burnett makes a spectacular film debut fronting a hot combo
Jazz Scene Stalwart Dan Kassell Shares Archived Video
Daniel Kassell, also known as Jazz Man Dan, has touched every virtual facet of the swing jazz world over the last 55 years. This journey
The Natural Gas Jazz Band Ends 52 Year Gig
After 52 years of playing and promoting traditional jazz around the world, the curtain finally came down on the Natural Gas Jazz Band at a
Clarence Williams
Clarence Williams was born October 6, 1893, in Plaquemine, Louisiana. He ran away from home when he was 12 to join Billy Kersands’ Traveling Minstrel
Remembering Chicago Cubs Quintet Bandleader Ted Butterman
Ted Butterman, jazz trumpet player, age 87, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, passed away August 31, 2022. He was best known for leading his Chicago Cubs
Classic Black & White Jazz Sessions • 11 CD Boxset
Mosaic Records’ new collection of jazz sessions from the Black & White label nominally covers 1942-49, but a couple of Petrillo-led musicians’-union strikes shut down
The Remarkable Conservatory Coursebook
In 1895, a two volume book entitled The Music of the Modern World was published in New York. At first glance this might seem like
West End Jazz Band • Burnin’ The Iceberg
In the Windy City, long before the Chicago Cellar Boys, before the Fat Babies, there was the West End Jazz Band. It was formed by
Remembering Leon Dudley
I have met or learned of some of the most interesting people through conversations with Max Morath. Recently he happened to mention his work in
Chip Deffaa presents George Cohan and Al Jolson
Chip Deffaa has had a busy life with several overlapping careers. From the jazz standpoint, he has been most significant in writing five very valuable
Jazz Amidst Mourning in Britain
On September 8, two momentous occurrences took place in the UK: one was instantly shared throughout the world and millions upon millions mourned; the other
Reinhardt Winkler • Flying Home
When tenor-saxophonist Harry Allen’s name appears on a CD, it is always worth acquiring. Austrian drummer Reinhardt Winkler is actually the leader of Flying Home,
The Glenn Miller House and Museum
When I attended the Glenn Miller Festival in June in Clarinda, Iowa, I visited his namesake museum, located directly behind the house in which he
Andrew Oliver • No Local Stops
Andrew Oliver may very well be the finest traditional jazz pianist in the world that you have never heard of. Although an American by birth,
Hot Jazz and Cool Breezes!
Leaving Southern Arizona’s summer heat for the cooler mountains of Northern Arizona, it was time to attend the Prescott Jazz Summit for a weekend of
Scott Hamilton • Classics
Tenor sax icon Scott Hamilton seems to lead as relaxed a life as his playing suggests. He’s based in Florence, Italy, playing festivals and club
Andy Senior, Poet
For this month’s column, I cede the floor to Michael Steinman, who published the following kind commentary about me on his excellent site, jazzlives.wordpress.com. I
Owen Broder • Hodges: Front and Center
Altoist Johnny Hodges (1907-70) had one of the most beautiful tones of any saxophonist and was a major asset to the Duke Ellington Orchestra for
The Festival Roundup October 2022
ROSWELL JAZZ FESTIVAL (Roswell, NM) – Oct. 12-16 Founded in 2006, the Roswell Jazz Festival is set to celebrate its 15th year as New Mexico’s
Classic Album: Doc Meets Doc
Doc Evans (1907-77) was a world class trad jazz cornetist who, because he chose to spend much of his life living and performing in Minnesota,
Cleopatra Rag
Cleopatra Rag (1915) is one of twelve of Joseph Lamb’s piano rags published by Stark Music Company. In an advertisement for the piece, the publisher
Claude Tissendier • Duke For Ever
Duke Ellington was such a brilliant and prolific musician that one could pay regular tributes to him as a pianist, arranger, and/or composer and never
Jazz Jottings: Jazz Musicians and Gangsters
Best-selling author T. J. English’s latest book Dangerous Rhythms delves into the interconnected worlds of jazz and organized crime in 20th century America. Through English’s
Letters to the Editor October 2022
Finding Steph and Paolo To the Editor: I am enclosing rny check for a two-year subscription to The Syncopated Times. I just thought I would
Doro Wat
The Doro Wat Jazz Band of New Orleans produced a self-titled CD a few years ago, featuring the cream of the traditionalist crop of musicians
Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue Scheduled for Oct. 23
As I look for an expressive way to describe ragtime, sheer exuberant joy comes immediately to mind. That joy and excitement is no better illustrated
Vintage Jazz Rarities 1924-1936
The recordings featured on this CD are all taken from the archive of the late John R.T. Davies, UK multi-instrumentalist and wizard of restoration. Some
Giacomo ‘Kansas Smitty’ Smith is All About Authenticity
Over the last decade, many British bands, clubs, pubs, and hotels have been offering evenings of “authentic” Jazz Age entertainment. Since 2013, event organizers have
The Versatility of Jim Maihack
On April 30, 2022, we mourned the loss of Jim Maihack—one of the best traditional jazz performers of recent times. Jim was also one of
Bill Campbell and Two Sides of Martinique
One morning not long ago, I’d awakened to the sound of music. It wasn’t from the neighbor’s all-rock radio station. It wasn’t my son Andrew
Novelty Piano Ragtime: Where it Came From, Where it Went
“Novelty Piano Music” is a sub-genre of ragtime music. It slowly started to develop in the late 1910s, but reached its zenith in the 1920s.
Travels with Butch Thompson: A Sideman’s Memories
Working with the late Richard “Butch” Thompson was always a memorable experience. The Butch Thompson Trio—with himself on piano, bassist Bill Evans and drummer George
Wingy Manone: Profiles in Jazz
Wingy Manone had an appealing image of a happy intuitive musician, a primitive who one day woke up and started playing the trumpet for the
Wonderful “Copenhagen”, Part 2
The 1930s Jeff Barnhart: Hal, last month we explored the tune “Copenhagen” from the first recording by Bix in 1924 to versions essayed through 1929.
One Step to Chicago: The Legacy of Frank Teschemacher and the Austin High Gang
The Austin High School Gang, a group of teenagers in Chicago attending Austin High School in the 1920’s, became smitten with the jazz of the
From the 2022 Ascona Jazz Festival
Great music, good conversation, delicious food plus total relaxation awaited us for our 4th year at Ascona in Southern Switzerland. After the covid-induced hiatus, the
Phil Napoleon
Phil Napoleon was born Filippo Napoli in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 2, 1901. Napoleon took up the trumpet early and first played in public when
The Gin Bowlers • No Mashed Potato
When I first saw a punk folk band called Holy Moly and the Crackers, I wished I could get married again just to have them
What’s My Number?
We all struggle with the conundrum regarding Art and Life: which imitates which? Sometimes it seems as if we are watching rather than scriptwriting our
Rare Ragtime on Phonograph Records
Since the introduction of the phonograph, syncopated music was commonly recorded. But often while flipping through collections of classic ragtime sheet music, it seems odd
Pismo Jazz Jubilee By the Sea Going Forward in January 2023
We are hard at work to bring back a live, in-person Jazz Jubilee by the Sea after two years of Livestreaming and Backyard shows. The
Andrew Dickeson’s Blue Rhythm Band • Swingin’ The Blues
Describing themselves as “a band for dancers and listeners alike,” Australian outfit Andrew Dickeson’s Blue Rhythm Band have been delighting swing fans around their native
From The 51st Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival
The 51st Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival In Davenport, Iowa, got under way, as usual, with a free concert at the Putnam Museum on Thursday afternoon,
Take Me to the Promised Gland
It is always a pleasure to receive comments from readers. This past month I was delighted to hear from an old friend in Sweden, Peter
