He was the first drummer to be considered a superstar and a matinee idol. Before Gene Krupa hit it big with Benny Goodman’s orchestra in 1935, drummers were primarily considered timekeepers who, at best, added […]
Red Nichols was one of the finest cornet players to emerge during the 1920s—yet, for various reasons, he was underrated throughout much of his career and in the half-century since. Because his personality could be […]
The Dodds Brothers with King Oliver’s Jazz Band, from left: Warren “Baby” Dodds, Honoré Dutrey, Joe “King” Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Bill Johnson, Johnny Dodds, and Lil Hardin. The Dodds Brothers, clarinetist Johnny and drummer Baby, […]
Earl “Fatha” Hines was one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Frequently he would play ringing octaves with his right hand (called “trumpet style piano”) that allowed him to be heard over the […]
Jazz history is full of bright flames, artists who come out of nowhere, make a very strong impression, and then burn out, often having a premature death. But no one seems to have had a […]
One of the most important of the New Orleans jazz pioneers, cornetist Joe “King” Oliver is perhaps best remembered today for leading the best jazz band of 1923 and for his connection with Louis Armstrong. However, […]
By Scott Yanow Bob Crosby definitely had an unusual career. Being the younger brother of Bing Crosby, the most famous singer in the world for quite a few years, there was no way that Bob […]
By Scott Yanow Strange as it seems, there was a time when it was not unusual for trad jazz recordings to be on the pop charts in Great Britain. Such recordings as Kenny Ball’s “Midnight […]