‘One-Leg’ Willie Joseph: Black Piano’s Missing Link
Mosaic on the Move: a Great Jazz Label Gets Smaller, Smarter
Mosaic Records was founded, nearly forty years ago, with the mission of reissuing great jazz recordings in a way that best showcases a particular artist
Bertha Gonsoulin: Sidewoman and Sidenote
The trumpeter Bunk Johnson has received plenty of press, including several features and a full profile—written last year by Scott Yanow—in this magazine. This coverage
The Unsettled Life and Career of Robert B. Joplin
Scott Joplin had two brothers who were musicians—Robert B. and Will. Scott’s one-time student and then colleague Arthur Marshall wrote the following about Robert and
The Sant Andreu Jazz Band: Our Newest Jazz Stars Are From—Barcelona?
Jazz returned to Barcelona in a big way this past September, with the annual four-day music event called Jazzing Festival — or simply, Jazzing. It was the
Sugar Chile Robinson Back in Limelight Thanks to ‘Go, Boy, Go’ Ad
Relentlessly repetitive commercials are one of the most irritating aspects of television. Especially egregious are personal injury attorneys, supplemental Medicare plans, auto insurance and Car
Cynthia Sayer Transcribes Snowden’s Harlem Banjo!
Cynthia Sayer, hailed as one of the finest four-string banjoists in the world today, has just issued The Swinging Solos of Elmer Snowden, a book
Sweet Megg Releases Two Christmas Singles
Turtle Bay Records was recently formed to provide jazz talent in New York the support and promotion they deserve. So far they’ve released an album
The St. Louis Jazz Club to Celebrate 70 Years!
The St. Louis Jazz Club is proud to announce that we will be celebrating 70 wonderful years in October. The first meeting of the Jazz
Searching for Donald Ashwander: A Tribute
In July of 1994, my first concert in the Chicago region was greeted on the same morning by my waking up and smelling gas in
William Bolcom: Musical Influences and Colleagues
Dr. William Bolcom celebrated his 83rd birthday this year. Few musicians can compare with the diversity of his abilities. He has studied with Darius Milhaud
Max Morath: Records That Changed Ragtime History
Within the space of three years, ragtime pianist-composer Max Morath released four vinyl LPs on the prestigious Vanguard label: The Best of Scott Joplin (double
Texas Shout #1 “Dixieland”
The following introduction was added when the Shouts were reprinted in the late 90s: Set forth below is the initial “Texas Shout” column, reprinted from
Texas Shout #57 Fats Waller, etc.
Set forth below is the fifty-seventh “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay, it first appeared in the December 1994 issue of
Texas Shout #66 Government Subsidies
Set forth below is the sixty-sixth “Texas Shout” column. The concluding installment of a two-part essay (part 1), it first appeared in the October 1995
From the 2021 Arizona Classic Jazz Festival
On the first weekend in November I attended the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Chandler. This hotel has been greatly
From the Central Pennsylvania Ragtime Festival
After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the 12th annual Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival returned to Orbisonia and Rockhill, PA on
A trip to NYC: Waldo’s Gotham Band & David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band
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
Three Blind Mice • A Swinging ChristMice
Jacob Adams • Equanimity
Gramophone Stomp • Swing Manouche
Benny Benack III with the Steven Fiefke Big Band • Season’s Swingin’ Greetings
Victorian Gardens Ragtime
The Christmas Reapers
The Shag Sharks • Coral Riff
Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet • Fools for Yule
King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin by Stephen Costanza
Clancy Hayes Vocal Discography Available from TST
Buck Clayton’s Jazz World, Part One
Spike Jones Off the Record: The Man Who Murdered Music
Eubie Blake: Profiles in Jazz
Everyone cherished Eubie Blake, particularly in his later years. A lovable character who had survived a long lean period, in the 1970s he was the
Isham Jones: Profiles in Jazz
Isham Jones, whenever he is mentioned today, is cited as being a talented songwriter who added several standards to the Great American Songbook. However he
The Blues-Singing Smiths: Mamie, Clara, Trixie, and Laura
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
Seems Like Old Times…
Lovely weather and lots of music greeted us in New Orleans for what is often considered the “wedding” month. Many postponed nuptials and their attendants
No Fests—but Lots of Music!
Although the French Quarter Festival and The Jazz & Heritage Festival were cancelled for October and postponed to its usual April-May period for next year,
Jazz in the Mountains
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
Dancing in a Bubble at the Fresno “Sounds of Mardi Gras” Festival in July
Throngs of live-music lovers descended upon the much anticipated “Sounds of Mardi Gras” festival in Fresno, California. We were almost giddy to attend this always
Live Jazz Returns to Tel Aviv
Considering that Israel is a country about the size of New Jersey with a population of about nine million, I would guess that per capita,
The 2021 Virtual Program of the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival
The weekend of June 4-5 belonged to the virtual concerts and symposia of the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival Foundation. That would ordinarily have been
The Remarkable Mr. Porter
Any seasoned record collector is likely aware of the baritone Steve Porter. He was a main fixture of the famous American Quartet, and a common
More Notes on Jimmy Hager
Last year, in this column was an article on drummer Jimmy Hager, bandmaster Fred Hager’s brother, but since that publication, more has been discovered about
Boston Brass and Beefsteak
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
Jew-ish
I haven’t been to High Holiday services in a very long time. My last memory was crashing Yom Kippur services at my local synagogue where
The Tears of a Clown
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
Second Hand Rows
4 years BC (Before Covid) my life hit a scary financial pothole. I had a small, yet vital secondary income and theoretically it would have
New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Sunnyvale, CA 1984
“This session is not simply a historical record. It’s the culmination of 14 years of gigs, tours, festivals, recording sessions and lots of rehearsal: spontaneous,
Buck Clayton’s Jazz World, Part Two
Also See: Buck Clayton’s Jazz World, Part One Jazz trumpeter Buck Clayton published a colorful and sincere autobiographical memoir thirty-five years ago. His literary voice is
Buck Clayton’s Jazz World, Part One
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
The Busking Experiment
Recently I read about a social experiment performed a decade ago involving world-renowned classical violinist Joshua Bell. (I know, I’m a little late to the
Music Education
The curious thing I’ve noticed about studying jazz at university, is that it sells all the glamour of becoming a jazz star, but largely ignores
An American Art Form
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
Neighbors Unaware…
I recently made a connection that has been in front of me for 40 plus years and which has nearly bowled me over. I spent
Song Introductions
I was writing an autumn poem for our local nature reserve newsletter this morning describing family trips I remember as a kid. I grew up
From the 2021 Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival
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
Multi Instrumentalist Dan Zeilinger has died.
Dan Zeilinger, a well know Southern California jazz musician and host of Trad Jazz Today, died on October 31st. His mother was from the Philippines,
UK Trombonist Dave Donohoe has died
Trombonist Dave Donohoe passed away on October 23, he was 81. Well known among jazz musicians inn the UK he shared the local focus on
Banjoist Ken Salvo has died at 74
Banjoist and guitarist Ken Salvo passed away peacefully in Florida on September 15th, he was 74. Sandra, his wife of 52 years predeceased him by
