Danny Tobias: Trumpeting and Teaching
Schaen Fox
February 28, 2021
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Growing up in Massachusetts, Dan Gabel was introduced to the mellow sounds of Tommy Dorsey’s trombone at the age of 10 when he was in
Jazz is pretty powerful stuff: it can move us to tears, or it can move us to dance all night long. But can it help
Bunny Berigan is best remembered for his hit recording of “I Can’t Get Started” on which he played trumpet and sang. He was one of
Was your 2020 a bit of a let-down? Mine was. I’d just moved to a new city. I had big plans for my little business,
With the War over, it was time for everyone to get on with their lives, including, in many cases, going back to college to finish
Among traditional New Orleans jazz classics, “Oh, Didn’t He Ramble” has to rank near the top in popularity. “When the Saints Go Marching In” and
When Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred December 7, 1941, I was ten years old. I had an older brother who graduated from high school
Along with the dearth of jazz clubs around the country, especially clubs which feature anything resembling traditional jazz, another venue for the music that has
Al Bowlly (7 January 1898 – 17 April 1941) is widely regarded as the premier singer of the pre-World War II dance band era in
Of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of musicians hired for Elkhart’s jazz festival, Howard Alden was one of the youngsters. …only in his forties! Now, a
A codified solo provides the audience with the experience of hearing something they’ve become familiar with through recordings. Jazz musicians, among themselves, have always loved
It’s easy to think that the group of songs we call “Standards” and the “Great American Songbook” emerged with a quality of “timelessness” directly from
The Syncopated Times Radio Network, with the call letters of WSNY, is a new internet radio station founded by the editors of The Syncopated Times
It had been a long time coming, but the 1811/Kid Ory Historic House in LaPlace, Louisiana, swung open its doors to visitors for the first
For many people, the COVID-19 Pandemic has meant simply working from home instead of going into the office. But those of us who make our
The virus pandemic has caused the cancellation of all the 2020 jazz cruises planned by JAZZDAGEN TOURS, just as was the case with nearly all
Throughout his long career, Louis Prima was a New Orleans-based trumpeter, a good-humored singer, and a lovable personality. While his wide-ranging career can easily be
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, this month’s column marks a thematic departure for us, but it is a subject about which I’ve given considerable thought over the
Jean Goldkette’s date and place of birth remain a matter of conjecture. According to Wikipedia, he was born March 18, 1893, though May 18 of
As professional musicians, our instruments are our tools of the trade. So, it’s important to keep that instrument in the best possible working condition. Regular
The Preservation Hall Foundation has started a new virtual instruction program with lesson plans that apply to K-12 educators, students, and parents. Access is free
In 1903, two of the major disc record companies ventured into unexplored territory: long playing records. The Victor talking machine company and Columbia phonograph company
I’m going to veer wildly off-format here in order to fulfill a promise I made in this column last month. Last year, a subscriber named
I believe I have made more valuable and lasting friendships in the past year of so-called social isolation, than I have made in the past
Joining Scott Whitfield as a 2021 inductee into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame is Brad Roth, who for the past 20 years has
Only events that are officially a go, or that have officially cancelled, rescheduled, or switched to an online format are included below. Do not interpret
Adam Swanson is a brilliant pianist who loves to entertain audiences. His mentor was the late Johnny Maddox and, like Maddox, he performs ragtime, early
British violinist Andy Aitchison grew up loving the playing of Stephane Grappelli, yet the music on his LeJazzetal release You Ain’t Never is not a
Duke Ellington recorded an enormous amount of music during 1924-74, and nearly everything that he documented is well worth hearing. The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition:
Cornetist Muggsy Spanier (1901-67) was one of the most consistent of all jazz musicians. His approach did not change at all after the late 1920s
Jimmie Noone (1895-1944) was one of the most influential jazz clarinetists of the 1920s, and is considered by many to be one of the big
I had “Viper Mad” stuck in my head throughout the month of December and I have this album to blame! It features the hottest contemporary
The Ventura based Barrelhouse Wailers have been delighting dancers and lovers of high times around Southern California since 2013. It’s a wonder they haven’t become
I would hope our readers know by now to seek out any new album from Paolo Alderighi and Stephanie Trick. They’ve been on our cover
The Jazz Band Ball Orchestra has been playing in Poland, and across Europe, since they formed as a music school group in 1962. By 1972
Back in the 1990s a group of guys played in a Django devoted string group with an unusual instrumentation. Where an unpright bass might be
I’m used to receiving albums from well intentioned and often self financed older musicians who are, to put it nicely, over proud of their accomplishments
So this rotten thing seems set to follow us, in one strain or another, into the long-awaited year of 2021—the blockade on gigs, festivals and
I’ve been waiting a long time to review Swing in Place. Or maybe it just felt like a long time, in this Groundhog Day mush
Is bear meat sweet? I’ll never know for sure—I’m vegetarian. Johnny Hodges seemed to think so, when titling the 1954 track which lends its name
Billie Holiday has inspired a number of books–often with conflicting views–that try to get a handle on her tumultuous and complex life. There’s an autobiography
Samuel Louis Nestico died on January 17th, he was 96. He began writing arrangements while still in high school learning trombone in the school band.
British bandleader, pianist, and vintage jazz authority Keith Nichols passed away on January 21st in a London hospital, he was 75. He fell ill with
Warren W. Hicks died on Thursday January 7 2021, he was 89. Hicks turned his love of classic jazz into a respected record auction business
Arnold Koch, the former manager of the Salt City Five (later the Salt City Six) died Jan. 13 at his home in Melrose, Mass. He
Jazz guitarist Ron Anthony passed away on January 19th, he was 87. After picking up the guitar at 16 he quickly developed to a professional
Trumpet player Robert “Bobby Tess” Tessitore, died peacefully at home on January 16, 2021, he was 85. Alongside his several other professions, Tessitore was a
Well known sheet music collector and music aficionados Janice Cleary died February 8, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska, she was 96. She had recently donated her
A little over 30 years ago, Ted Huff and I met as a result of our mutual interest in jazz, both playing it as a
Vol.6, No.3 March 2021
Danny Tobias: Trumpeting and Teaching, by Schaen Fox
The Story of the Salty Dogs, by Bob Lord and Tom Bartlett
George Orendorff: Louis and the “Lucky” Break, by Dan Barrett
Dan Gabel Champions Big Band and Vintage Jazz, by Lew Shaw
Corina Kwami Quenches the Thirst for Jazz … and Water?, by Dave Doyle
A Musician’s Life During a Pandemic, by Glenn Crytzer
Encounters with Slim Gaillard, by F. Norman Vickers
The Curious History of “Oh, Didn’t He Ramble”, by Con Chapman
Eric Heveron-Smith’s 2020 Was More Disappointing than Yours, by Dave Doyle
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Jean Goldkette, illustration by Joe Busam
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior and Guest Columnist John Gahan
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
The Professor is IN: Saxophone Repair, by Adrian Cunningham
Quarter Notes: Bits and Pieces, by Shelly Gallichio
Hager’s Two-Dollar Overtures, by R.S. Baker
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco
Profiles in Jazz: Louis Prima, by Scott Yanow
Blowing off the Dust: Virtual Friends, by Larry Melton
The Triumph and Tragedy of Bunny Berigan, by Dave Radlauer
Ain’t Cha Got Music: Dancing Jazz, Pt. 1, by Jeff Barnhart and Hal Smith
Announcing the Syncopated Times Radio Network
1811/Kid Ory House Opens to the Tune of “Muskrat Ramble”, by Russ Tarby
Jazzdagen Tours Announces New Jazz Cruises, by Alida Meijers
Nights at the Turntable, CD Reviews by Scott Yanow
Book Review: The Lady Swings by Dottie Dodgion, by Scott Yanow
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD Reviews by Joe Bebco
