Riley Baker: Swingin’ in the Golden State
Hal Smith
August 31, 2020
Dave Kelbie is an in demand rhythm guitarist who has worked with a number of legends of gypsy jazz and more recently hot jazz. He
Pianist Kris Tokarski (“Lendítsd a zongorán!” TST, May 2020) hails from the home state of James P. Johnson and currently lives in Jelly Roll Morton’s
Frank Big Boy Goudie (1899-1964) played only clarinet on the West Coast, his most personal voice emerging in an autumnal blossoming of his music. His
It’s tricky to find much online about Olivia Cook—unless you’re seeking her almost-namesake Olivia Cooke, the English actress who starred in Psycho prequel Bates Motel.
Most big bands during the swing era had three trumpeters. After that period, trumpet sections grew to four or five musicians generally comprised of one
Cladys “Jabbo” Smith was born in 1908 and became a professional trumpet player at age 15. He showed up in New York City in 1925
Back in 1988 while building the lineup for the Elkhart Jazz Festival, I took a look at Doc Cheatham as an all-star participant; however, when
Riccardo Scivales was in his teens in Mestre, in the commune of Venice, when he discovered the English Progressive rock band Yes with Rick Wakeman
Thirty-three year-old guitarist/banjoist Arnt Arntzen, younger brother of reedman Evan Arntzen, has quickly established his own presence in New York. Evan was featured in this
Although cancelled for June 2020 this year, the Elkhart Jazz Festival will make a return next year…maybe. Most of the guys and gals who worked
Exhausted by six months without swinging out, sociable swing dancers are finding other ways to scratch that interaction itch: outdoor tea dances, pub garden socials,
There’s money in the bank, the Lesson Bank, that is—a new treasure trove of accessible music knowledge sponsored by the Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation and
Beth Arroyo Utterback at radio station WWOZ informs that the successful Festing In Place event that was held in lieu of the annual Jazz &
Of all the adventures I’ve had in my worldly travels, one of my least memorable was a night in Lisdoonvarna. Now when I say least
THIS IS AN OUTDATED ROUNDUP. OUR CURRENT FESTIVAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND UNDER EVENTS IN OUR MENU 10th ANNUAL BICKFORD BENEFIT (Morristown, NJ) Oct. 1st
I am a bacon-wrapped cliché, an idiom in puffed pastry. And sometimes I am the wrong that proves the right. I have been absent from
In the 1890s and 1900s, military bands were all the rage. From Gilmore’s band to your village community band, they were loved by everyone. One
A spokesman for the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) was quoted in a story carried by National Public Radio last month stating that without federal
When I published my first issue of The Syncopated Times, I worked to compensate for the variables and uncertainties involved in getting started. Not the
“There has to be a balance between literally white-washing or ignoring history and presenting it in actual context…it appear(s) no matter what approach is taken,
Vaughn De Leath was born Leonore Vonderlieth in Mount Pulaski, Illinois, on September 26, 1894. At age 12, Leonore relocated to Los Angeles with her
Al White a True ‘Friend of Jazz’ To the Editor: If you tried to define “Friend of Jazz,” you wouldn’t look any further than to
A superb guitarist in the Django Reinhardt style, Angelo DeBarre (who was born in 1962), has been a major force in the European jazz scene
Sidney Bechet (1897-1959) was one of the true masters of not only New Orleans jazz but all of jazz history. While the soprano-saxophonist and clarinetist’s
Samoa Wilson is a singer with a real feel for vintage material. She has had a long association with guitarist-singer and jug band leader Jim
Gene Austin (1900-72) was arguably the first great crooner. During a period when many of the male pop singers used on pop and jazz recordings
While many of the studio recordings from the prime years of the British trad movement (1950-65) have been superbly compiled and reissued by the Lake
A casual listen to Paul Bocciolone Strandberg’s Narcisse Jazz Band’s Look At The World And Smile reveals an excellent eight piece group consisting of cornet,
The River Raisin Ragtime Revue is a Michigan based orchestra that puts on exciting community events to educate the public about the American popular repertoire
“A Spoon Full of Sugar” sounds like a jazz song title, doesn’t it? Turns out the familiar tune from Mary Poppins also swings, at least
Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys have always had a few Jewish novelty numbers in their book. They use them to bring levity to their
It has been nice to have another visit with the Dixie RB Five. Though I passed the review of their first album along to Scott
Emily Asher was featured on our cover last month so I won’t spend too much time on her background. A daughter of the Northwest traditional
Les Rois Du Fox-Trot is a 10 piece French dance band. Once led by cornetist Jean-Pierre Morel, they are still a world class outfit worthy
For two chaps with a guitar and a washboard, Martyn Roper and Jack Amblin—a.k.a. the Washboard Resonators—can really belt it out. They’ve proved as much over the
This concert for the BBC Jazz Club program opens with what to Chris Barber fans will be the familiar signature tune of the band, “I Never Shall Forget,” the show’s compère being Humphrey Lyttelton.
A journalist and jazz promoter, David Booth Cooper died on August 15th, he was 87. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps he was a life long
Known for its musical heritage, Mason City has produced a number of successful performers and educators and is the site of the annual North Iowa
A lifelong “Friend of Jazz”, Al White passed away on July 20, 2020, at his home in Hot Springs, Ark., he was 92. With his
William (Bill) Howland Kenney III, died on July 26th, he was 80 years old. He was a professor at Kent State from 1966 on, teaching
Helen Elizabeth Jones Woods died in Florida of Coronavirus on July 25th, she was 96. As a little girl she was fascinated by the trombone
Dr. James McCauley Vandivier died on July 14th, he was 86. Over 48 years as a physician he took on leadership rolls within his field
Rudy Emilio Torrini, a jazz and aviation enthusiast well loved in the St. Louis area, succumbed to his illness on June 7, 2020, he was
Nora Louise Hulse, of Lawrence, Kansas passed away July 24, she was 88. Her mother had trained at Chicago’s American Conservatory of Music, so when
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, who was known by his stage name Bent Fabric, died on July 28th, he was 95. He is remembered for the catchy hit
Writing for The Syncopated Times reminds me of the experience of being alive. We go from experiencing the joy and ecstasy of the music we
Riley Baker: Swingin’ in the Golden State, interview by Hal Smith
Riccardo Scivales Transcribes the Stride Masters, by Becca Pulliam
Lady’s in Charge: The Career of “Lady Charlotte” Cook, by Dave Doyle
Dave Kelbie: Gypsy Guitar, lejazzetal, and More, interview by Joe Bebco
Fatha Knows Best: Earl Hines and Chicago Style Piano, by Hal Smith & Kris Tokarski
Memories of the Elkhart Jazz Fest: Marty Grosz, by Van Young
Frank Big Boy Goudie, Pt. 3: San Francisco 1956-1964, by Dave Radlauer
Re-evaluating Jabbo Smith’s Place In Jazz History, by Steve Provizer
Jazz Birthday of the Month: Vaughn De Leath, illustration by Joe Busam
Static from my Attic, by Andy Senior
Final Chorus, compiled by Joe Bebco
Jazz Jottings: Endangered (and Enduring) Jazz Clubs, by Lew Shaw
The Professor is IN: Serendipity in Lisdoonvarna, by Adrian Cunningham
Clichés at the COVID Cabaret, by Randi Cee
The Beaux of Bronx Park, by R.S. Baker
Jazz Travels: The Saga of Arnt Arntzen, by Bill Hoffman
Festival Roundup, compiled by Joe Bebco
Profiles in Jazz: Ellington’s Trumpet Legacy, by Scott Yanow
Quarter Notes: More Festing in Place, from Shelly Gallichio
Blowing off the Dust: The Maple Leaf Club, by Larry Melton
Sacto JEF Launches Free Remote Learning Service
Dance Teacher Seeks Bookworm Buddies, by Dave Doyle
Memories of the Elkhart Jazz Fest: Doc Cheatham, by Van Young
Leeds City Stompers: Blues, Ragtime, and Swing, CD review by Dave Doyle
Nights at the Turntable, CD reviews by Scott Yanow
Off the Beaten Tracks, CD reviews by Joe Bebco
Chris Barber at the BBC, CD review by Bert Thompson
