Max Morath: Records That Changed Ragtime History
Matthew de Lacey Davidson
September 30, 2021
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Note: Earlier in 2021, jazz writer Dave Radlauer was offered a collection of recordings by the Red Onion Jazz Band—from the collection of Dick Dreiwitz,
The year 2021 marks 110 years since the birth of jazz trumpeter Buck Clayton, best known for his role in the classic early Count Basie
In 1920, the success of Mamie Smith’s recording of “Crazy Blues,” the first blues recorded by an African-American singer, was a major surprise to the
Also see: Early History of the Galvanized Jazz Band & History of the Galvanized Jazz Band, Part 2: The Millpond Years After the Millpond Tavern closed in
Jeff Barnhart: This column is a special one for me! Several years ago, Hal introduced me to the music of Frank Melrose (it’s truly a
In 1910, a new phonograph company emerged in Boston, it was founded upon a few generous donations from local elites. Their donations set the company
As Max Morath celebrates his 95th birthday on October 1st this year, we are reminded of his career that spanned eight decades and included nearly
Vince Giordano’s life has been dedicated to the performance and preservation of the music of the 1920s and ’30s. He has been described as “a
Last month, I included a partial list of discontinued festivals in my column. Performing at these festivals provided me with memories that make me smile
In every issue of The Syncopated Times, I mean to celebrate the life force; syncopation itself is the pulse of life. The beat of one’s
We are delighted to extend birthday greetings to ragtime scholar, polymath, and entertainer Max Morath, who turns 95 on October 1st. Max was born on
Note: These are the abbreviated remembrances that run at the front of the paper. Each of these men earned a longer tribute that can be
My desire to lead my band and sing the old tunes hasn’t cooled, but my hustle has. My reality with an at-risk mother has devolved
This is not an article I expected to write, but given that the events I’m relating occur on a regular or seasonal basis, I felt
Jazz has had quite an amazing journey this last hundred years. It is no longer the music of the downtrodden and uneducated lower classes. It
Vincent Matthew Johnson (pictured) is one of the most accomplished Ragtime composers alive; though young, he has already written several masterpieces in both Classic and
The emergence of music festivals in America during the last century contributed greatly to the preservation and appreciation of the nation’s musical heritage. I have
While Hurricane Ida was heading towards New Orleans and the State of Louisiana, we were up in the northern part of Arizona at the Prescott
REDWOOD COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL (Eureka, CA) Postponed The Redwood Coast Music Festival Board of Directors voted this week to postpone this year’s events due to
Called “one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to ever make landfall in the United States,” Hurricane Ida did a number on three historic landmarks in
Sarah Vaughan (1924-90) had one of the most wondrous voices of the
Humphrey Lyttelton (1921-2008) led the top British traditional jazz band of the
It is often intriguing hearing jazz performers at the very beginning of
Tony Pastor (1907-69) was a likable Italian-American singer and tenor-saxophonist who had
A superior stride and classic jazz pianist since the 1970s, Ted des
I went to a dance last week—not an awkward daytime shuffle on asphalt, but an honest-to-goodness indoor, after-dark event on a wooden
A world traveling Australian who has appeared everywhere from
I wasn’t going to review Ted des Plantes’ latest
Cats and Dinosaurs books themselves as “The world´s most
Like many a full generation before him Tony Kieraldo
Western swing isn’t easy to find these days, the
The Syncopated Times has reviewed more Champian Fulton albums
The year 2021 marks 110 years since the birth of jazz trumpeter
It is fair to say that Spike Jones was in his own
The St. Louis Jazz Club is proud to announce that we will be celebrating 70
In August, we lost a towering titan of ragtime
“I should have gone in and pounded the table,”
George Wein, jazz promoter, pianist, and producer, died in
Phil Schaap, who moved on to another bandstand yesterday,
Pianist John Sheridan passed away after a battle with
Vol.6, No.10 September 2021
Max Morath: Records That Changed Ragtime History, by Matthew de Lacey Davidson
History of the Galvanized Jazz Band, Pt.3: After the Millpond, by Art Hovey
The Ragtime Era and the Birth of Public Television, by Max Morath with Larry Melton
Vince Giordano: Keeper of the Jazz Age Flame, by Lew Shaw
The Red Onion Jazz Band: A Hot Time in NYC, by Hal Smith & John Gill
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Max Morath, illustration by Joe Busam
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
My Inspirations: Ralph Sutton’s Last Stand, by Jeff Barnhart
Boston Brass and Beefsteak, byR.S. Baker
The Professor is IN: Jazz: An American Art Form, by Adrian Cunningham
Ragtime Vignettes: Red Envelope Rag, by Brandon Byrne
Jazz Travels: Waldo’s Gotham Band & David Ostwald, by Bill Hoffman
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco
Blowing off the Dust: The 2021 Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, by Larry Melton
Profiles in Jazz: The Blues-Singing Smiths, by Scott Yanow
Quarter Notes: Jazz in the Mountains, by Shelly Gallichio
Tears of a Clown, by Randi Cee
Buck Clayton’s Jazz World, Pt. 1, by Dave Radlauer
Ain’t Cha Got Music: Pianist Frank Melrose, by Jeff Barnhart & Hal Smith
St. Louis Jazz Club Celebrates 70th Birthday, by Kathy Gray
Jazz Broadcaster Phil Schaap (1951-2021) and his Worlds, by Michael Steinman
Remembering Mark Allen Jones, Titan of Ragtime and Hot Jazz, by Jeff Barnhart
R.I.P. John Sheridan: Master Musician and Arranger, by Hal Smith
Wally Holmes: Evangelist, Composer, Producer, Jazzman, by Richard Simon & Cynthia Crosby
CD Review: Just Jivin’, by Dave Doyle
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
The Syncopated Bookshelf, book reviews
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD reviews by Joe Bebco
