Randy Sandke: A Study in Versatility
Lew Shaw
September 1, 2017
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I was languishing in my Tokyo hotel room with three days off, eight weeks into a thirteen week Far East tour, too lazy to practice,
A few weeks ago, while looking up something else entirely, I happened to find a photo online of Leslie Johnson, who for 35 years published
The Scene of the crime? The new tenant had only recently taken up residence at 43-30 46th Street in the Borough of Queens, New York.
The Scope of Jazz I have a very tiny, very beautiful pony hair purse. Too small to be of any use, it hangs on a
He was one of the most extraordinary individuals in jazz history, a largely illiterate gypsy who also happened to be one of the greatest jazz
This is The Festival Roundup as printed in our September 2017 issue, the most recent roundup can be found under “Events” in our menu. VAIL
Hal Smith, whose prolific writings over the years have qualified him as a jazz historian in my book, has long admired trombonist Edward “Kid” Ory
Banjos Aweigh on JazzFest at Sea To the Editor: As you now know, there will not be a 2018 JazzSea Cruise in January. Although it
Anderson Meade “Lux” Lewis was born on September 4, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. Meade took some lessons on violin at the behest of his father,
On Dancing Bears, Sarcasm, and the Imperfect Reliability of Electronic Mail At certain times I begin to loathe the internet, resent my computer, and nurse
Perceptions As I was wandering the Internet this month for ragtime news, something Jeanie Wright wrote on her Facebook page caught my attention. When asked
JOE THOMAS, 84, on July 26. As a child, he learned to play alto and soprano saxophone, trombone, flute and piano, and taught himself to
I, like most jazz musicians, am often asked this question by the layperson: “How do you improvise in a jazz band? Do you just make
Fred Hersch, prolific composer, and pianist releases his newest solo CD and LP to coincide with his memoir Good Things Happen Slowly. The release date
This independently produced CD features tenor saxophonist Woody Witt collaborating with pianist Larry Ham’s trio. Rounding out the group are bassist Lee Hudson and drummer
Australian jazz musician Adrian Cunningham fronts a prestigious quartet which includes pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist John Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. Cunningham is now based
John Pizzarelli is an outstanding 7-string guitarist/vocalist from a musical family. Coming up in the tradition of his father Bucky who is still performing at
Bix is a unique two-CD tribute to Bix Beiderbecke. The first CD is fourteen tracks of music associated with Bix Beiderbecke. It is performed by
Growing up in Davenport,
Drummer Hal Smith has been one of the most valuable players in a countless number of settings through the years, from 1920s music and New
Will Perkins, 23 at the time of recording Snowy Morning Blues, is a talented ragtime and stride pianist from California. He has a relaxed style
In 1929 Jabbo Smith, who turned 21 that Christmas Eve, was arguably the second best trumpeter in jazz behind Louis Armstrong. While one could hold
Although it is not obvious while listening to Nat King Cole’s live set from Zurich, Switzerland (performed on Oct. 19, 1950 and only previously available
Ma Rainey (1886-1939) has been accurately called the “Mother Of The Blues.” Born before almost all of the other classic blues singers of the 1920s
FRANK CAPP, 86, on September 12 in Studio City, Calif. A swinging drummer who found his initial fame playing with Stan Kenton’s Orchestra at the
PAUL OLIVER, 90, on August 15 in Oxfordshire, England. A British academician who wrote some of the first scholarly studies of the blues in the
GLEN CAMPBELL, 81, on August 8 in Nashville, TN after a lengthy and public battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Originally from Delight, Arkansas, he was a
BARBARA COOK, 89, from respiratory failure on August 8 in New York City. A singer and actress who first came to prominence in the 1950s
CHUCK LOEB, 61, on July 31 after suffering from cancer for several years. A versatile guitarist, composer and producer, he was best known for his
JOE THOMAS, 84, on July 26. As a child, he learned to play alto and soprano saxophone, trombone, flute and piano, and taught himself to
Randy Sandke: A Study in Versatility, by Lew Shaw
Any Rags?, by Andy Senior
Was Bix Poisoned?, by Lew Shaw
Endorse This, by Ross Konikoff
Bowled Over, by Randi Cee
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Meade Lux Lewis, Illustration by Gary Price
Static from my Attic: Message Not Sent, by Andy Senior
Jazz Jottings, by Lew Shaw
Profiles in Jazz: Django Reinhardt, by Scott Yanow
Blowing off the Dust: Restoring Virtue to Archiving, by Larry Melton
Jazz Travels: The Bix Museum, by Bill Hoffman
Festival Roundup, Compiled by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Lew Shaw
The Professor is IN: The Inner Workings of a Traditional Jazz Band, by Adrian Cunningham
Wonder What a Grand Piano Thinks of Jazz Player, Caroon by Clare Briggs(1928)
The Syncopated Bookshelf: Finding Bix, reviewed by Lew Shaw
Nights at the Turntable, by CD reviews by Scott Yanow
CD Reviews, by F. Norman Vickers :
Echoes of Swing: Bix—A Tribute to Bix Beiderbecke
Open Book- Fred Hersch, solo piano
Larry Ham and Woody Witt: Presence
John Pizzarelli (featuring Daniel Jobim): Sinatra & Jobim @50
Richie Freedman’s Cool Blue, Concert Review by Harvey Barkan
Professor Peter: I Picks Up My Ukulele, CD Reviewed by Andy Senior
“Full Speed Ahead!” by Andy Senior
The Bubble of Music, essay by Andy Senior
