The ‘Seriously Cool’ Banjo of Cynthia Sayer
Lew Shaw
October 1, 2017
Tokyo native making her bones in old New Orleans Like a cyclone from across the Pacific, trombonist Haruka Kikuchi blew away audiences at last year’s
In 2011, Attorney Herb Ely had the vision of opening an inclusive jazz venue in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona that would give budding jazz
Catherine Annette Hanshaw was born October 18, 1901, in New York City. Born into a relatively well-to-do family, she sang at hotels owned by her
Success at Every Turn Artie Shaw was a unique figure in jazz history. A competitor of Benny Goodman both as a clarinetist and a bandleader,
This is The Festival Roundup as printed in our October 2017 issue, the most recent monthly roundup can be found under “events” in our menu.
He was a neighbor of mine who embodied everything positive that noun could hold, and then some. Once when I was out of town he
When I think of some of the acts that are chosen to perform at certain jazz festivals, I cannot help but hear the persistent voice
Wesla Whitfield Retires Posting an announcement on Facebook that his wife, vocalist Wesla Whitfield is retiring due to health issues that affect her singing, Mike
“Muskat?” Oh, Man! To the Editor: I’m currently reading the September issue of Syncopated Times, where in the “Jazz Jottings” column I found mention of
This month I’m not so much blowing off the dust as I am clearing out some cobwebs, and delightful cobwebs they are thanks to Andy
RICHARD FAZIO, 77, on June 12 in Boulder City, NV. A master pianist and vocalist, he performed with several U.S. Navy bands and the Sea
I’m a pretty good looking guy. I don’t think that’s an outrageous statement. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to see me anytime soon
Most readers of this column would have, at least, heard of pianist/ group-leader/ composer Fred Hersch. He is now a 61 year old artist who
Recently I saw a Quad-City Times story about yet another book purporting to enlighten the public about the life and career of Bix Beiderbecke. I
The Leader Evan Christopher, who was featured on the cover of the August issue of The Syncopated Times, brought the annual Jazz-n-Caz event in Cazenovia,
While ragtime is often thought of as a music performed by solo pianists, there is something very special about a ragtime orchestra. Even the most
It all began back in 2010 when the Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band was organized at Brigham Young University. Trumpeter Austie Robinson, trombonist Brian Woodbury, and
In his short life, Charlie Christian (1916-42) revolutionized the jazz guitar. While he was not the very first electric guitarist (being preceded on records by
Trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton (1921-2008) and his band never tried to sound like anyone else. Lyttelton, who had a long and episodic career, teamed up with
Since its formation in 1984 as a subsidiary of Fellside Recordings, Lake Records has compiled and released a large assortment of high-quality traditional jazz with
ARMIN “Jack” MEILAHN, 81, on September 15, Naperville, IL following a brief battle with liver cancer. A charter member of Chicago’s Bill Bailey’s Banjos in
ROBERT LYNN, 94, on August 30 in Scottsdale, AZ. Originally from Derry, PA, Bob Lynn had been involved in jazz in multiple roles throughout his
LARRY ELGART, 95, on August 29 in Sarasota, Florida. Playing the alto saxophone, he began traveling with some of the biggest-name bands of the day
JOHN ABERCROMBIE, 72, of heart failure on August 22 in Courtlandt Manor, NY. Called “a guitarist of stylistic flexibility and uncompromising musical vision,” he was
BEA WAIN, 100, of congestive heart failure on August 17 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Started singing on the radio at the age of 6, became
RICHARD FAZIO, 77, on June 12 in Boulder City, NV. A master pianist and vocalist, he performed with several U.S. Navy bands and the Sea
The “Seriously Cool” Banjo of Cynthia Sayer, by Lew Shaw
Queen of the Tailgate Trombone, by Russ Tarby
The Nash: A Home for Jazz, by Lew Shaw
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Annette Hanshaw, illustration by Gary Price
Static from my Attic: Jazz and Not-Jazz, by Andy Senior
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
Blowing off the Dust: Remembering Leslie Johnson, by Larry Melton
Profiles in Jazz: Artie Shaw, by Scott Yanow
Jazz Travels: 46th Annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, by Bill Hoffman
Festival Roundup, Compiled by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Lew Shaw
The Professor is IN: The Hot Professor, by Adrian Cunningham
The Talking Machine (cartoon), by Clare Briggs
(Personal Essay) He Was a Neighbor of Mine, by Randi Cee
Concert Review: Evan Christopher’s Clarinet Road, by Andy Senior
Nights at the Turntable, by Scott Yanow
Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz by Fred Hersch, Review by F. Norman Vickers
Hal Smith Pays Tribute to Kid Ory at Foo Foo Fest, Press Release
Scott Black on “Finding Bix”, from Quad City Times
Ragtime Implicated in Mental Pathologies, by Fred Hoeptner
New Jersey Jazz Society Celebrates 45 Years, Press Release
Musicians: Time to Enroll for ACA in 2018 is Limited, Andy Senior
Road Raisins: A Ragtime Oddity (song), by Andy Senior
