News

The British weather has been … changeable, over the last month. I know, bad weather in Britain—quelle surprise. But honestly, the sun has been unusually

Over her 50-plus-year career, Maria Muldaur has worked with dozens of musical giants and geniuses, from Ry Cooder to Duke Robillard to Jerry Garcia. She

Sad news that Arthur’s Tavern, the historic blues and jazz club in New York City’s West Village for over 70 years, has officially closed. The

My only contacts with Dr. W. Royal Stokes, who passed away last month at the age of 90, were an occasional exchange of emails, but

In an attempt to address the shortfall in “honest, reliable guidance in matters of music and culture,” noted jazz writer-author Ted Gioia has launched an

On March 18th banjoist Jim Jones suffered a severe stroke near his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, according to information received from his wife,

As we enter the roaring 20s of the 21st century, NYC jazz artists Sweet Megg and Ricky Alexander seamlessly blend the vintage era of the

As Ukulele is becoming more popular people are learning the basics of string names and a few basic chords, as well as all the different

If Kevin Keaton has his way, you’ll soon be able to pop into your grocer’s dairy case for a snack and some tunes. Keaton, the

Here’s the post-Valentine’s Day wish of every jazz musician: Roses are Red, Violets are blue— We just want some gigs (And a festival or two).

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

River Parishes Newest Museum to Officially Open to the Public LAPLACE, LA January 26, 2021. After a year of planning and installing exhibits, the 1811

We thank Larry Melton and Bryan Wright for preparing this wonderful three page spread. It ran in the center pages of the February 2021 Print

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

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

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

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

Pioneering dancer Norma Miller—dubbed the “Queen of Swing”—has been honored with a memorial alongside those of King Oliver, W.C. Handy, Duke Ellington and other jazz

Two individuals who have long championed the legacy of Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke are the recipients of the 2020 Bix Lives Award, chosen by the Board

The 17th JazzFest at Sea will take place onboard the MSC Divina, departing from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean on October 3,

It was in March this year when we first began thinking about a virtual festival. By then we could clearly no longer meet in person,

Pianist and noted Ragtime authority Terry (Emerson) Waldo has been diligently at the ivories for over 50 years. Composing, concerting, barroom gigging, doing radio, musical

Physical distancing is a sensible reaction to infectious disease; the cure for what ails our society. Yet, like cod liver oil or chemotherapy, taking this

Regina Bain has been named the new executive director of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the National Historic Landmark dedicated to the cultural, historical and

With heavy hearts, although with much pride, Brian Holland and Jeff Barnhart, along with the Board of Dixieland Monterey, announce the cancellation of the 41st

The River Raisin Ragtime Review Board of Directors announced on Thursday, Kelsee Vandervall will be the new Music Director following the retirement of founding director

There are many, including myself, who are mourning the loss of one the most colorful and exuberant characters of traditional jazz. Steve Yocum, quite effectively,

After 38 years on the air Rob Bamberger’s Hot Jazz Saturday Night aired its final show over Washington D.C.’s airwaves on June 23rd 2018. Possibly

Along with everything else this spring the 5th Annual NY Hot Jazz Camp (for adults) was cancelled. As time went by many live events went

For over fifty years now, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra has been entertaining generations with an authentic rendering of some of the finest music from the

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

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

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

With the avalanche of festival cancellations and postponements that have occurred due to the coronavirus crisis this year, festival organizers are looking for possible ways

Guitarist Jared Engel is one of the more than 175,000 residents of New York City, considered the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United

This event was Cancelled. Will be back in 2021 The 54th annual West Texas Jazz Party is rescheduled for August 6-8, 2020 in the beautiful

At the end of March cdbaby.com took down all of the storefronts that at one point were a primary way for independent artists to sell

The Jazz Journalists Association has recognized 27 “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz” from 23 cities as its 2020 Jazz Heroes. The list

  The Louis Armstrong Emergency Fund for Jazz Musicians offers one time grants of $1000 to jazz musicians who regularly work in New York City

Recognizing their “unique and enduring contributions to the living history of jazz,” the late Mat Domber and his wife Rachel are the recipients of the 2020 Satchmo Award

Leslie Carole Johnson was the founder and editor of The Mississippi Rag from 1973 until shortly before her death in 2009. In January 2007, she attended the IAJE

The Fillius Jazz Archive, a priceless oral-history collection at Hamilton College, is 25 years old this March. Under the guidance of saxophonist-educator Monk Rowe, the

On March 24th 2018 we announced the launch of Syncopatedtimes.com on our Facebook page. At the time we only had 300 followers. A total of

Jazz Oracle was always a classy label. Their reissues, which were produced by Colin J. Bray, John Wilby and the late John R.T. Davies, featured

Jazz musicians work hard and have to hustle. They seek out gigs and venues. They are more often than not their own managers, publicists, or

We collected these Irish highlights from the National Jukebox, a Library of Congress effort to digitize early 78 RPM records (pre-1925) and make them available

When I reached out about contributing stories to The Syncopated Times last fall I included a long list of topics for articles. I had carefully crafted

The Barbary Coast Dixieland Jazz Band holds a special place in Minnesota music history—and not just because its members were inducted into the Minnesota Music

Paris Washboard, the renowned French quartet, will be making its first US appearance in over two years, with four concerts in February in Pennsylvania and

Among certain nations, a baby’s birthday isn’t celebrated until its second anniversary; they don’t want to get too excited or jinx things in light of

The following remembrances ran in our pages this year.      

Recently, Canadian vocalist Alex Pangman received two precious gifts from Kyla Titus, a grandniece of Connee Boswell. One was a pair of red gloves that

Jim Syoen, of the Assunto Dukes, has a mission beyond merely playing jazz for seasoned fans. A few years ago he created Mister Tuba’s Funtime

Bob Wilber, one of the finest clarinet and soprano saxophone players, died on August 4th at age 91. Bob was a direct link to his

The sad word has come to us tonight, that Ian passed yesterday, Sunday Morning the 19th. We have posted an obituary: Pop Idol turned Ragtime

Pianist Ed Clute, who was featured in the February 2016 issue of The Syncopated Times, has achieved worldwide recognition for his incredible playing, thanks to

The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation (SJIRF) has recently announced the Larry Karp Memorial Fund Award Program. The award will recognize and educate young ragtime

Jimmy Mazzy has been well known in the traditional jazz world since the early 1970s. He’s played banjo for The Paramount Jazz Band of Boston,

For the third year, the Preservation Hall Foundation has held an award ceremony inducting important New Orleans musicians into their Legacy Program and announcing their

Movement to save it wins temporary injunction. In June 1923, pioneer record producer Ralph Peer and New York-based Okeh Records took their newly-invented portable recording

Chris Barber died on March 2nd 2021 at age 90. Read our extensive obituary. The Big Chris Barber Band will carry on but Chris Barber

Jeff Barnhart and Joel Schiavone announced that their annual weekend House Party will not take place this year. Since 2012, Jeff and Joel’s gem-like event

Famed Harlem Ballroom to Throw Open its (Digital) Doors Once More In May of 1937, around 4,000 swing fans crowded a ballroom to see two

During an especially poignant moment at this year’s Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, David Reffkin presented the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award to Swedish ragtime performer, composer,

Lew Shaw’s  Jazz Beat: Notes on Classic Jazz is now an e-book/print on demand paperback. First published in 2013 it includes forty-seven recent profiles of

April 5, 1917, Scott Joplin was buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery, East Elmhurst, NY. A 16-year-old girl already occupied the grave, and a 25-year-old man

 The Steele Family created a grant for the Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival to promote a youth program. In honor of this bequest this