Current Issue
James Weldon Johnson: A Life Full of Hope
In recent years, the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has reentered the public consciousness. Depending on who is telling the story, the work is
Willis Conover: America’s Most Famous ‘Unknown’ American
Just a few weeks before his death at age 75, Willis Conover had still been doing what he had done for more than four decades—spreading
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band Takes Up Residence at Birdland
There is only one seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band with a steady gig in New York City—the High Society New Orleans Jazz Band, co-led by
Tommy Burton: Britain’s own Waller Wannabe
I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again anyway: the true joy of vinyl is not so much having some superlative sonic
‘As Long as They Can Blow’: Steve Provizer on Interracial Jazz
NOTE: This is an edited excerpt of the interview I did with Steve Provizer after reading his new book, As Long As They Can Blow:
Monterey by the Bay: The Bash Was a Smash!
NASA hasn’t perfected the robot that would be the ideal reviewer for a jazz festival like the Jazz Bash by the Bay in Monterey, California,
100 Issues of The Syncopated Times? How Is That Possible?
If you gave me a hundred dollars, I would be pleasantly surprised. If someone lives for 100 years that would be miraculous to me. If
Warner Brothers’ ‘Irish Bard’
As Summer approaches, we celebrate Irish Month my thoughts turn to my grandfather, M.K. “Moe” Jerome, whom those Warner Brothers called “The Irish Bard.” Moe
Singer Becky Kilgore’s Husband Sets Up GoFundMe for Her Long-Term Care
Portland, Oregon Jazz Master Rebecca Kilgore is experiencing “cognitive decline” as her health has worsened over the past year, according to her husband, trumpeter Dick
Home Again: Nicki Parrott Swings the Southern Hemisphere
Like her music, Nicki Parrott has traveled far from her birthplace in Newcastle, Australia, and established an international reputation as both a renowned bassist and
Duved Dunayevsky: There’s Rhythm in Paris
Chapter 1: In Which Paris Comes to New York In 2019, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend Tatiana Eva Marie’s birthday party,
Rossano Sportiello Makes the Ivories Swing
An article in the February 2021 issue of DOWNBEAT Magazine had this to say about the individual who will be the recipient of the 2024
Texas Shouts #19-21: Chicago Style Dixieland
Set forth below are the combined 19th-21st “Texas Shout” columns. This three-part essay appeared in the July, August, and September 1991 issues of the West Coast
Texas Shouts #17 & #18 Favorite Musicians
Set forth below are the Seventeenth and Eighteenth “Texas Shout” columns. They first appeared in the May and June 1991 issues of the West Coast Rag,
Texas Shout #16 Why Most Young People Don’t Like Dixieland Jazz (And What To Do About It.)
Set forth below is the sixteenth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the April 1991 issue of the West Coast Rag, (now Syncopated Times.) The following
A Brief Stop in NOLA
Prior to the Templeton Ragtime Festival in late February, I spent a few days in New Orleans. As my regular readers know, when I travel
Louis and Bria in NYC
On a rainy Friday, December 1, I made my second trip to the Big Apple in just under two months. My main purpose was to
A night in NYC: David Ostwald and Terry Waldo
On October 4, I made one of my periodic jaunts to New York to indulge my passion for traditional jazz. Before Covid I used to
Abe Pollack • Unprecedented Time
Art Tatum • Jewels In The Treasure Box
Andrew Oliver • Ragtime New Orleans Style vol. 3
Three from Brian Holland, Danny Coots, and Co.
Mel and Friends • Swingset Serenade
Owen Broder • Hodges: Front And Center Vol. Two
Jane Scheckter • I’ll Take Romance
San Jacinto Stompers • A Thousand Goodnights
Big Joe Turner: Feel So Fine A Bio-Discography
Jelly Roll Blues: Censored Songs & Hidden Histories
As Long as They Can Blow: Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935
Dust Bowl To Disney: The Lost Memoir of Danny Alguire
Frank Trumbauer and Adrian Rollini: Profiles in Jazz
They were two of the finest saxophonists of the 1920s, ranking at the top with Sidney Bechet (soprano sax), Jimmy Dorsey and Johnny Hodges (alto),
Humphrey Lyttelton: Profiles in Jazz
In music history, it ranked with Igor Stravinsky’s debut of The Rite Of Spring in 1913 and Bob Dylan “going electric” at the 1965 Newport
Benny Goodman’s Female Singers – 1939-49
During the Swing era, bandleaders had a variety of different opinions about the importance of employing a female singer. Some, such as Artie Shaw, considered
Marching into an Arizona Spring…
After exciting trips to New Orleans and San Diego, the schedules for March included more local attention to the incredible talent we have right here
From the 35th San Diego Jazz Party
We attended the 35th Anniversary of the San Diego Jazz Party this past February and with beautiful weather at last! The Hilton Del Mar is
Cold Winds Outside, Hot Jazz Inside!
When we hit New Orleans this past January it was 32 degrees and very windy! The Mississippi encourages bitter winds through the Quarter and creates
Wham Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham
Arranging is an underrated element in jazz and arrangers have not been given the credit they deserve. Arranging has almost always been considered piecework, paid
Dick Hyman’s Century of Jazz Piano (5 CD + 1 DVD Box Set)
Within Dick Hyman’s Century of Jazz Piano (Arbors), a five-disc CD set totaling 121 selections, pianist Dick Hyman seeks to demonstrate the development of jazz
Heat from the Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party is Felt Worldwide
There are two rules I tell everyone when they attend the Whitley Bay International Classic Jazz Party for the first time. One: it’s a marathon,
A Weekend in Morrisania: Hager in the Bronx
For over eight months, I have lived in the Bronx, specifically the neighborhood of Morrisania. Nothing is quite as exciting and inspiring as living in
Frank and John: The Musical Banta Brothers
In the world of 19th century theater, there were many siblings who made their success by performing together. As the phonograph became a legitimate medium
Helf and Hager Set up Shop on Tin Pan Alley
In the latter 19th century, a few daring publishers decided to try and combine their hustling status with the phonograph. In the 1890s it was
The Lost Hook Tapes
It really is a waiting game based on luck and endurance. I am banking on the idea that if you stick to your artistic career
Birthday Blues
“Everything happens for the best” Does it really? In a continuation of last month’s theme of reality being how we perceive it, perhaps the better
Reality is a Cruel Mistress
If I was a rich man, I would have a right proper mid life crisis. I suppose that is a very sexist idea that you
Bush Street above Powell in San Francisco: The Club Hangover Story, 1949-61
Club Hangover was the foremost Dixieland and New Orleans Jazz nightclub on the West Coast in the 1950s. The intimate nightspot featured music six nights
Jazz in San Francisco, Pt. 3: Bagdad-by-the-Bay, 1940s, ‘50s & ‘60s
West Coast Blues & Russell City; Fillmore venues; Sugar Pie DeSanto, Vince Guaraldi; Ralph J. Gleason & Jazz Casual TV San Francisco was a crossroads
The Elusive Legacy of Bill Erickson 1929-1967
“Erickson, usually erroneously labelled a Dixieland jazzman, was in every way a comprehensive modern musician, performer and composer whose interests ranged from the blues to
Ain’t No Wrong Notes in Jazz
It is easy to be impressed by jazz musicians… if you are not one yourself. We are, after all, an impressive bunch. And I know
Bad Moon Rising
Jazz musicians are a mischievous bunch. I doubt that’s a surprise to any of you, as the history books are filled with stories of pranks
The New Syllabus
There’s been a lot made in the news in recent times about systemic issues in our education system. As I understand it, there seems to
Richard Zimmerman and the First Joplin Fest
This month I conclude my reflections on the first Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in Sedalia in July of 1974. Hopefully someone will write about the
(Mis)Remembering the 1974 Joplin Fest
As I blow the dust off of the fifty-year-old files of Joplin Ragtime Festival documents, it isn’t just the dust causing my eyes to tear.
David Reffkin and the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival
There was a knock at the door and when I answered the fellow introduced himself as David Reffkin (not to be confused with Joshua Rifkin
Russian jazz writer Vladimir Feiertag has died
Vladimir Feiertag (December 27th, 1931 – March 28th, 2024) The Russian jazz writer started out as a pianist, co-authored the first monograph about jazz in
Polish jazzman Antoni Krupa has died
Antoni Krupa (March 23rd, 1945 – March 17th, 2024) The Polish guitarist/banjoist and harmonica player was a member of the Jazz Band Ball Orchestra and
Jazz drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath has died
Albert “Tootie” Heath (May 31st, 1935 – April 3rd, 2024) The drummer and 2021 NEA Jazz Master, was the last surviving member of a legendary jazz
