Tim Laughlin • The Trio Collection, Vol. II
Tim Laughlin has long had a fluent and infectious style, a beautiful tone on his instrument, and the ability to conceive of and record definitive
Cab Calloway’s Sidemen
Seems like yesterday that Cab Calloway was singing and dancing on black and white tv. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to meet Cab but
Milt and Mona Hinton
Bassist Milt Hinton and his wife Mona thoroughly enjoyed going to Milt’s gigs scattered around the world. In the early ‘80’s, my wife Jean and
Emily Asher: Keeping it Positive
This summer, trombonist/singer/composer Emily Asher had planned on touring with her band Garden Party, in support of the group’s newest album If I Were a
Steve Pistorius: Standard Bearer of New Orleans Jazz
Pianist Steve Pistorius has honored the New Orleans Jazz tradition since the 1970s as a piano soloist, sideman, bandleader, and educator. Hal Smith: What was
Benny Goodman: Profile in Jazz
He was the “King of Swing,” one of the greatest clarinetists of all time, and an international celebrity by 1936 who is still a household
Frank Big Boy Goudie, Pt. 2 of 3, South America 1939-46, Europe 1946-56
Creole multi-instrumentalist Frank “Big Boy” Goudie (1899-1964) spent six vibrant years blowing saxophone, trumpet and clarinet in Brazil and South America. Big Boy played Samba-swing,
Greg Poppleton • Tin Pan Alley Vol. 2
Some sequels are unwarranted and altogether unwelcome: A second coronavirus outbreak. World War II. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. But there was one return I was
Laura Windley: Accidental Jazz Star
Global pandemics aside, the Mint Julep Jazz Band is enjoying great demand. With band members featured at North Carolina’s Lindy Focus—one of the planet’s biggest
1920: The Year Broadway Learned To Syncopate
A playlist providing discographical information for all of the sample tracks follows the article. The arrival of George Gershwin on the Broadway scene, heralded by
Lizzy and the Triggermen • Good Songs for Bad Times
Lizzy and the Triggermen were on a major upswing when the pandemic hit. They’d been selling out shows at larger and larger venues around LA
Glenn Jenks • The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano
A few disclosures are in order. 1) Though the late Glenn Jenks (1947–2016) and I met only at ragtime festivals, we communicated occasionally by phone,
Checking in on Jazz Festivals
Checking on the status of the few festivals scheduled to take place during the remaining months of 2020 is akin to reading the final chapters
Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys • Cool It If You Can
St. Louis has had a uniquely bluesy and sassy revival jazz scene for going on 70 years. I’m happy to say the younger generation, led
Letters to the Editor August 2020
To the Editor: Congratulations to Scott Yanow on another great profile, Bud Freeman, in the July Syncopated Times. Your description of what he brought as
James Reese Europe’s 369th Infantry Hell Fighters Band • The Complete Recordings
During 1913-14 the African-American bandleader James Reese Europe recorded eight groundbreaking selections with his Society Band, some of which contained basic improvising and the strong
The Beginning of the Manufactured Hit
In the music world, it is easy to overrate the popularity of songs and performers. This is not a new concept, and in terms of
Doro Wat • Meet Us At The Lost Love Lounge
If you enjoyed Doro Wat’s self titled debut CD you are going to love their latest— Meet Us At The Lost Love Lounge. Recorded before
Sheila Jordan: A Visit With the Jazz Child
There may be some question about whether certain singers are “jazz” singers, but there is no question about Sheila Jordan’s jazz bona fides. She has
Les Brown • Meanwhile Back On The Bus
Of all of the swing era big bands, only two were together nonstop into the 1970s: Duke Ellington and Les Brown. Ellington kept his high-priced
Quotes for Quarantine: from Plato to Pops
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness and gaiety and life to everything.”
Reel Jazz! Kevin Whitehead Dissects 93 Years of Jazz Films
–The 1947 film New Orleans altered jazz history by inspiring Louis Armstrong to form his small-group All-Stars, a format he maintained for the rest of
The St. Louis Steady Grinders
The St. Louis Steady Grinders is a duo comprised of Ethan Leinwand’s piano and singer Valerie Kirchhoff. While Ms. Kirchhoff has been performing in the
Joan Dragon: From Your Father’s Mustache to Suncoast
Suncoast Jazz Festival director Joan Dragon has had a long and varied worklife, in and outside the music world. Having never attended this festival, I
The Rebecca Kilgore Trio • Just Imagine: Classic Jazz at Classic Pianos
This is a delightful trio album with Rebecca Kilgore providing vocals and occasional guitar, Dan Barrett and trombone and Paolo Alderighi on piano. Since I
Find Something New
Okay, folks—this mess has gone on long enough. The festivals are dropping like flies and I, along with all the other musicians in the scene,
Stu Pletcher 1924-1937
Stu Pletcher (1907-78) was never a major name and he had a surprisingly brief career in the spotlight. His son, Tom Pletcher, had a more
Notes on the Long Intermission
If anything is musically analogous to this historical fermata, it must be the chorus-length note held by Carmen Lombardo on the Royal Canadians’ classic (and
Ethan Leinwand • The Low-Down Piano
When it comes to performing music from the 1920s and ’30s, there are several viable approaches. Some musicians closely copy the arrangements and sometimes the
Chicago Stompers • Sing… It’s Good For You!
Hard as it is to imagine an in person jazz event these days I’m going to dream big. Someday I hope to see an old
Norman Vickers: Jazz Doc and More
Norman Vickers is known as a harmonica-playing physician who was a pioneer in his field in his adopted city, and who for the past 40
From the Brass Section to the World
With the recent passing of Johnny Mandel, I wanted to honor those gifted jazz musicians who, like Mandel, began as just another member of a
Jigsaw Puzzle in Time of Covid-19, a Poem
The pieces yearn for each other. Little twists with soft, round arms reach out to open spaces that almost fit, but not quite. They want
Dirty River Jazz Band • High Life in San Antone
I’d set out to review the new album from the Dirty River Dixie Band for the July issue. I’m glad I waited. In June, before
Abe Lyman
Abe Lyman was born Abraham Simon on August 4, 1897, in Chicago, Illinois. He and his brother Mike changed their last name to Lyman because
Humph, Bruce & Sandy Swing At The BBC
During 1948-55, trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton led what was arguably the top British traditional jazz band. His group, which teamed him with clarinetist Wally Fawkes, performed
Charlie Bertini Creates ‘All Warmed Up’ Gear for Idle Trumpeters
With public gatherings (including concerts and festivals) banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, live music has faded into a mere memory. Orlando, Florida, jazzman Charlie
Dixieland Goes Dutch • Dutch Swing College Band Favorites
Formed on May 5, 1945, just a few days before the official end of WWII, the Dutch Swing College Band is still playing all these
The Ultimate Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee (nee Norma Deloris Egstrom) was one of the vocalists who made their mark with big bands in the 1940s. Some of these included
Thoughts on learning of the Death of Lucille Salerno
Writing for The Syncopated Times reminds me of the experience of being alive. We go from experiencing the joy and ecstasy of the music we
‘Twisted’ lyricist, vocalese pioneer Annie Ross has Died
Annabelle Allan Short, known professionally as Annie Ross, died on July 21 in New York City, four days ahead of her 90th Birthday. She was
The Festival Roundup August 2020
BIX BEIDERBECKE MEMORIAL JAZZ FESTIVAL (Livestream Event) – July 30-Aug. 1 The Bix Jazz Society is excited to announce we are hosting a VIRTUAL JAZZ
Lexie Assunto and the Assunto Dukes
As an avid Dukes of Dixieland fan, I was very pleased to discover we still have an Assunto out there making music, lovely Lexie Assunto
Remembering Eddie Higgins
Some folks called him by his true first name, Haydn. For most of us, a simple “Eddie” worked alright. I’ve introduced Eddie several times and
Peacherine Ragtime Orchestra launches Stage and Screen Spectacular Fundraiser
The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra is celebrating our tenth anniversary season this year. The twelve-piece ensemble, formed while I was a freshman at the University of
Dixieland Dykes +3 Founder Lisa Canjura-Clayton has died.
Lisa Canjura-Clayton passed away on May 31st, she was 57. She was a prominent member of the San Francisco area LGBT community. At every stage
‘Twisted’ lyricist, vocalese pioneer Annie Ross is ailing
Update: Annie Ross Died on July 21st, 2020. As vocalese pioneer Annie Ross approaches her 90th birthday on July 25, she finds herself in need