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Jazz Articles about Louis Armstrong
Stomp Off, Let's Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong
by Keith Hatschek
Stomp Off, Let's Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong Ricky Riccardi 466 Pages ISBN: # 978-0-19-761448-8 Oxford University Press 2025 Louis Armstrong's undeniable influence on jazz and popular culture has been the subject of many books, essays, and articles throughout the years, so one wonders will another biography add substantially to the Armstrong body of knowledge? After reading Stomp Off, Let's Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong the answer is a ...
Continue ReadingLouis Armstrong, Bobby Broom, Ayumi Ishito and Jonathan Barber
by Cheryl K.
During this week's two-hour program of Jazz and improvised music--vocalists Zack Foley and Ben Sidran, guitarists Miles Okazaki and Bobby Broom, saxophonists Ayumi Ishito and Oded Tzur, clarinetist Harry Skoler, and drummer Jonathan Barber. Playlist Louis Armstrong “The Bare Necessities" from Louis in London (Verve) 3:20 Norma Winstone & Kit Downes “Out of the Dancing Sea" from Outpost of Dreamse (ECM) 3:34 Alex Bird & The Jazz Mavericks “When the Blackbird Sings" from You Are the Light and ...
Continue ReadingLouis Armstrong, Shana Tucker, Incognito and More
by Jua Howard
Welcome Music Family! Per usual, I've got some great music in store for you this week including new music from Shana Tucker and Abena Koomson-Davis; and plenty more timeless music from artists such as Louis Armstrong, Nnenna Freelon, Ian Shaw and Incognito. Come get lost in the music with me!Playlist Intro 00:00 Mike LeDonne “Put It Back" from Wonderful (Cellar Music Group) 2:23 Abena Koomson-Davis “Up Jumped Spring" from Where Is Love? (WJ3 Records) 8:56 Benny Benack III ...
Continue ReadingWalter van de Leur: Jazz & Death, Part 2—Dancing With the Devil
by Ian Patterson
Part 1 | Part 2 Most people would probably take a linear, historical view of jazz in an attempt to understand its complex history. Walter van de Leur, Professor of Jazz and Improvised Music at the University of Amsterdam, starts with death. His book, Jazz And Death: Reception, Rituals And Representations (Routledge, 2023) illustrates multiple ways in which jazz's fascination with death feeds into the narratives and mythologies that surround the music and its practitioners.
Continue ReadingIt's Christmas Time, Again
by Patrick Burnette
One of the bastards loves holiday music (Mike loves to flex his “knowledge-of-obscure-Xmas-tunes" muscles) and so the holiday episode has become an annual tradition. Luckily, every year at least a few jazz musicians put out a holiday album (if under duress) and archival and historical finds are always there to enjoy as well.Playlist Discussion of Various Artists's album A Jazz Christmas (Windham Hill) 2:52 Discussion of Shorty Rogers' album The Swingin' Nutcracker (RCA) 11:47 Discussion of Louis Armstrong's ...
Continue ReadingLouis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington & Lena Horn
by Joe Dimino
In honor of the 2022 book Dangerous Rhythms by New York Times best selling author T.J English, we constructed an hour of jazz celebrating the story of his intersection of the mob and the music. It starts in Chicago with the great King Oliver and ends in New York City with Jimmy Durante. In between, we touch on a story that was the root and force of jazz in the beginning. Featuring artists like Jelly Roll Morton, Bennie Moten, Earl ...
Continue ReadingBill Cunliffe, Doc Watkins & Louis Armstrong
by Joe Dimino
We begin our annual Christmas Hour of Neon Jazz with brilliant young composer Richard Williams and a song off his 2022 album Hollywood Christmas. Following that, we hear a live cut recorded by your trusty host at the historic Blue Room off 18 & Vine in Kansas City with pianist Charles Williams doing his best to honor the Peanuts gang. From there, we get into a host recent holiday albums including John Di Martino, Doc Watkins and the master of ...
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