Don Ewell, 1916-1983: An Appreciation
Classics in Jazz: ‘I’ve Heard that Song Before. . .’
What do Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Haydn, Dvořák, and Grieg have in common? You’ll find their music in vintage jazz recordings by the John Kirby
‘One-Leg’ Willie Joseph: Black Piano’s Missing Link
The term “missing link,” was once used to describe a hypothetical being which, if found, would exhibit traits common to otherwise dissimilar ancestors and descendants.
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
Big Band Alumni Swing Again
(LOS ANGELES, CA) For over 15 years every Tuesday morning, a crowd has gathered in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley to listen and dance to a
Virtual West Coast Ragtime Fest a Signal Success
The intrepid West Coast Ragtime Society has announced the overwhelming success of their 2021 virtual 35th annual Ragtime Festival. For the second year, the all-video
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
Anne & Jeff Barnhart: Dynamic Duo of Syncopation
Bill Hoffman: Regular TST readers know how you, Jeff, got in involved in music, but they are probably not aware of how Anne did. Please
Trombone was Hailey Brinnel’s Fifth Choice
Landing on Hailey Brinnel’s website, visitors are greeted by the vocalist and musician leaning on her trombone like an elaborate brass walking cane. Soon a
Elia Bastida: From Classical Violin Student to Jazz Virtuoso
The history of jazz has been populated by masters of the trumpet, saxophone, trombone, clarinet, piano, bass, drums, and other associated instruments. Yet only a
Texas Shout #4 Reading, Solo & Ensemble Skills
Set forth below is the fourth “Texas Shout” column, reprinted from the March 1990 issue of The American Rag (then West Coast Rag). Because the
Texas Shout #9 Entertaining the Audience
Set forth below is the ninth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the August 1990 issue of The West Coast Rag, now known as
Texas Shout #38 Jazz Singers
Set forth below is the thirty-eighth “Texas Shout” column. It first appeared in the April 1993 issue of the West Coast Rag now The Syncopated
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
Miss Maybell & Charlie Judkins • Cares Will Be Forever Ended
Black Swan Classic Jazz Band • Dance Hall Favorites
Michael Law’s Piccadilly Dance Orchestra • When You’re Smiling
McQuaid’s Novelty Jazzers • Unprecedented Measures
Miss Myra and The Moonshiners • Live At The Dakota
Frank “Big Boy” Goudie on the West Coast
Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime Shepherd Kings
8-Bit Big Band • Backwards Compatible
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
Hoagy Carmichael: Profiles in Jazz
When one thinks of Hoagy Carmichael, it is often of the character that he portrayed in movies: a wisecracking pianist who offered homespun advice to
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
Back Home Again in Arizona…
The Arizona Classic Jazz Society held its 32nd annual festival the first weekend in November at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Chandler Golf Resort (the San
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,
Catherine Russell Enchants Crowd at Shanghai Jazz
Sometimes the ownership of a property changes rapidly. That happens whenever proprietor Tom Donohoe introduced Catherine Russell to a house always packed with her devoted
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,
‘Scandalous Charlie’ Prince
Charles Prince could seem like a rather boring character on the surface; he led his own band and orchestra for the same label for 20
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
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
Humphrey Lyttelton: British Jazz Polymath
POLYMATH: a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. Jazz trumpeter and bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton was an author, broadcaster, illustrator, composer and journalist. A popular radio
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
Where Are the Ugly People?
After trawling through YouTube the other day to listen to the latest offerings in the world of popular music, many thoughts come to mind. We
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
Treemonisha’s Premiere, 50 Years On
I surprised myself when I placed the phone back on its port and just sat to let the inspiring emotion of the previous conversation mellow.
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
Dave Frishberg (1933-2021)
Pianist and composer David Frishberg died on November 17th, he was 88. He was known for witty and often humorous lyrics of a style that
Salty Dogs tubist Mike Walbridge has died
Tubist, Mike Walbridge, 84, passed away November 20, after a brief illness. Renowned for his magnificent bass playing and extensive recording credits, Mike was also
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,
