Jazz Trivia Quiz Every two weeks I will be posting a new jazz trivia quiz. The 20 multiple choice questions should intrigue even the experts. Quiz #5 (Jazz On Film), along with the answers, has now been posted. Quiz #6 will be posted soon. Please click on link above.
Riverwalk Jazz For the past 20 years, Jim Cullum and his jazz band's Live From The Landing radio series, which is nationally syndicated, has presented hundreds of programs that focus on vintage jazz, with a different topic each week. I have been writing for their series, contributing to some of the scripts for the shows. Some of the programs I've been involved in include clarinetist Johnny Dodds, trumpeter Henry "Red" Allen and cornetist Red Nichols.
I was featured throughout their special Jazz From The Movies show which focused on my book Jazz On Film. It aired during the weekend of Jan. 29, 2010 and included a lot of fine music from Jim Cullum and his guests including trumpeter Bob Barnard. You can listen to the show using the link below. It will take just a few minutes to download. THE JAZZ AT THE MOVIES SHOW
WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE!
I've been a jazz journalist and historian for over 30 years and love all eras of jazz and blues. Ever since 1975, I have covered everything from New Orleans and 1920s jazz to swing, bebop, fusion, Afro-Cuban jazz, the avant-garde and today's jazz and blues scene.
Jazz caught my ear from the time I was 15. I first heard Dixieland in the Danny Kaye movie The Five Pennies and on a daily radio show hosted by the late Benson Curtis. I discovered Swing when I ran across Chuck Cecil's Swinging Years on the radio.
At college, roommates thought I had a huge record collection when they saw my 25 Lps, but were dismayed to find out that it was all dixieland and swing. One day at a used record store, I ran across a $1.99 Charlie Parker LP that, among other songs, included "White Christmas." I had never heard of "Groovin’ High" or "A Night In Tunisia" but at least I had heard "White Christmas" somewhere! I played the album two or three times each day for a week. It took about five days for my ears to be opened and then I became quite anxious to learn about all eras of jazz. Within two months I was into John Coltrane's 1966 explorations with Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis' Live/Evil, quite a jump from Pete Fountain. My desire to own and hear every jazz recording is still my goal.
After I graduated college with an accounting degree, rather than get a real job, I became the jazz editor for Record Review, a now-legendary music magazine that lasted for 44 issues. That experience and its publisher Brian Ashley started me in the jazz writing business.
Since then, I have been involved in many projects. Being the Senior Editor for the 3rd edition of the All Music Guide For Jazz resulted in a countless number of my CD reviews and biographies being utilized throughout the internet including Pandora Radio. In addition to having written ten books so far (most recently The Jazz Singers) and writing for the Jazz Heritage Club, I have also penned the biographies for the Playboy Jazz Festival program guides, and am currently writing for the popular jazz radio series Jim Cullum's Riverwalk - Live At The Landing.
I have written over 600 liner notes, hundreds of press biographies and press releases, and it has been said that I have reviewed more jazz recordings than anyone in history. I have contributed to virtually all of the major jazz magazines including Downbeat, Jazz Times, Jazziz, Cadence, Coda, The Mississippi Rag, Jazz Forum, Jazz News, The Jazz Report, Planet Jazz, Jazz Now and Jazz Improv. These days I write regularly for Jazz Times, Jazziz and The Los Angeles Jazz Scene.
In addition, I offer a variety of services for jazz and blues performers. Check out the Musicians' Corner for more information.
I have also written for several jazz festival programs. The biographies and discographies that I wrote for the Playboy Jazz Festival program can be found at FESTIVAL PROGRAM GUIDES.
RADIO INTERVIEWS
In early 2009, the fine singer Solitaire Miles interviewed me for her Internet radio show. If you'd like to hear me gab with her about various jazz-related topics, the show can be found at: www.blogtalkradio.com/Solitaire-Miles/2008/10/22/Tones.
The great stride pianist Judy Carmichael interviewed me several years ago for one of the early editions of her Jazz Inspired radio series. Click this link to hear the show: It will take a few minutes to download but it's a good hour-long interview with music. JUDY CARMICHAEL'S JAZZ INSPIRED