The ghosts of George Lewis, Kid Thomas, Jim Robinson, Kid Ory, and the other wonderful New Orleans Jazz revivalists happily roam the fields and shires
Invoking Lady Day and Frank Sinatra has obvious benefits and risks. While it can attract an audience, it can also invite comparisons. When Catherine Russell
Few serious scholars believe that famous boast, made by the notoriously braggadocious Jelly Roll Morton, in which he claims to have single-handedly invented jazz. But
It has been said that when Count Basie played full, two-handed stride with his later bands, some of his younger musicians would say “Yeah! I
Introduction Recently written ragtime compositions, as a rule, do not attract much attention from the majority of ragtime aficionados nor the general public. However, as
Duke Ellington’s accomplishments, innovations, and sheer productivity as a bandleader, pianist, arranger and composer were so vast that one or two articles cannot do justice
When one thinks of the great swing trumpeters of the 1930s and ’40s, the names of Louis Armstrong, Bunny Berigan, Henry “Red” Allen, Harry James,
Jeff Barnhart: Hal, this month we’re examining the output of the remarkably polished Halfway House Orchestra, a white dance band that had a residency at
I recently went to one of the most profound and joyful memorials I have ever attended, held for Ian Timothy Whitcomb (July 10, 1941-April 19,
I have written a lot about Treemonisha over the years and since 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the first two fully staged productions of
William Henry Joseph Bonaparte Bertholoff Smith was born on November 25, 1897, in Goshen, New York. Young Willie began playing piano when he was six
If you are a collector of early shellac disc records and cylinders, you’ll likely know that there is an awful lot of history in New
The 13th Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival followed a slightly different format this year from past practice. It was extended by one day,
The Smoky Topaz, published in 1901 by Whitney Warner in Detroit. Her treatment of form in The Smoky Topaz shows her maturity as a teenage
In Chandler, Arizona, the Arizona Classic Jazz Society reconvened after their summer hiatus to enjoy the Wildcat Jazz Band at their monthly event in September.
On those rare occasions when I manage to accomplish something even marginally technological (or even technical), like finding the on/off button on a computer or
Back in the 1920s and ’30s, the place to go dancing in Western Massachusetts was Cook’s Butterfly Ballroom in my home town of Springfield, Massachusetts.
In this dim and chilly season, as snowbirds migrate south and leaves fall from the trees, I turn from my preoccupation with my own foibles
When it was formed in 1984, the Madison Jazz Society had as its mission, “…encourage the performance of and education about jazz.” In 2021, it
33rd annual ARIZONA CLASSIC JAZZ FESTIVAL (Chandler, AZ) – Nov. 3-6 The only major festival to go off as planned during the pandemic the ACJF
It may happen that there are musicians where you live who shine as brilliantly on their instruments as any who have achieved great fame in
Word spread quickly through the music community in St. Louis and then by social media across the nation that the Scott Joplin House at 2658
In the summer of 1982, Mike Cox, a banjo player from England living in Canada, met with the manager of Vancouver’s thriving, six-nights-a-week Hot Jazz
Tom Tucker passed away on July 2nd, he was 86. According to his family obituary “his best life began” when after retirement he became a member
Charlie Devore died on September 24th, he was 89. He was part of the reason Minneapolis became a hotbed of New Orleans jazz in the 60s
When you think of the early collectors of 78 rpm records, the guys driving into Appalachia or knocking on doors in rural Mississippi to find
It’s Chicago in 1927. Trombonist Roy Palmer and musicians inspired by Louis Armstrong (perhaps Bob Shoffner), Johnny Dodds, and Jelly Roll Morton are joined by
For his recent release on the Spanish Swit label, pianist Ignasi Terraza decided to feature what he called an “unusual trio” with Adrian Cunningham on
Jazz Classic of the Month The Spirits Of Rhythm were a unique, swinging and joyful group that hit it big at the Onyx Club on
The Umlaut Big Band is a very flexible and musical ensemble based in France that is directed by alto-saxophonist Pierre-Antoine Badaroux. Two of their recent
Russ Wilson and the Wrong Crowd is an excellent new swing band with a collection of great names from roughly speaking the Mid Atlantic. I
Guitarist Leo Forde has been living and working in New Orleans since 2014 but, I was pleased to discover, he’s one of ours—a Brit (although,
Sweet Megg has been living a double life, singing for jazz bands in New York City and exploring classic country and early rock ‘n roll
Most of the pro jazz musicians I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing have majored in music at college. This seems like a smart move: if
From his teenage years until his death, Bill Bissonnette (or “Big Bill Bissonnette,” as he liked to be known) was a staunch champion of traditional
Vol.7, No.11 October 2022
Sydney Leff and the Art of Sheet Music Illustration, by Hal Glatzer
The Earliest Recordings of “Modern Ragtime”, by M. de L. Davidson
Mamie Desdunes: The Woman Behind the Man Behind Jazz, by Dave Doyle
Reaching Way Back with “Fatha Hines”, by Hal Smith
The Story of Duke Ellington, Part 1: 1899-1929, by Scott Yanow
Legendary Record Collector Joe Bussard Dies at 86, by Joe Bebco
Scott Joplin House Severely Vandalized, by Larry Melton
Madison Jazz Society Announces Final Concerts, by Linda Marty Schmitz
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Willie “The Lion” Smith, illustration by Joe Busam
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, by compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Jottings: Grand Dominion Calls it a Day, by Lew Shaw
My Inspirations: Confessions of a Reluctant Luddite, by Jeff Barnhart
Quarter Notes: Swing That Music!, by Shelly Gallichio
Ragtime Vignettes: The Smoky Topaz, by Brandon Byrne
Jazz Travels: Ragtime and Rails in Central PA, by Bill Hoffman
A Record Collector’s Explorations in NYC, by R.S. Baker
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco
Profiles in Jazz: Charlie Shavers, by Scott Yanow
Blowing off the Dust: More Reflections on Treemonisha, by Larry Melton
Ain’t Cha Got Music: The Halfway House Orch, by Jeff Barnhart & Hal Smith
Celebrating Ian Whitcomb: “We’ll Meet Again”, by Randi Cee
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
Doyle’s Discs, CD reviews by Dave Doyle
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD reviews by Joe Bebco
Book Review: It Started With a Guitar by Carmen Caramanica, Andy Senior
CD Review: New Orleans Legends, by Bert Thompson
Russell and Pizzarelli: Billie and Blue Eyes, by Schaen Fox
Bude 2022: Great Jazz at the Tip of the United Kingdom, by Frank Farbenbloom