Barneveld, NY

Beloved teacher, clarinetist, and bandleader Don Cantwell celebrated his 100th birthday with 100 friends, family, and past and current students at Unity Hall in Barneveld, New York. His jazz band, the Clef Dwellers (a group including his alumni students and other prominent local musicians), accompanied Don on the clarinet as they performed traditional jazz tunes and other old favorites. Don was featured soloist on “Memories of You” and “When You’re Smiling.” He introduced “Memories of You” with a personal story about hearing Benny Goodman play the tune in New York in 1942. It was a life changing experience for him. Ever the teacher, Don couldn’t help giving those assembled a lesson in “Diaphragmatic Breathing,” his key to being a top musician and performer.

Musician Don Cantwell Plays Hot at his 100th Birthday Bash

Guitar Player

One can certainly be forgiven for hearing the name Derek Trucks and immediately jumping to thoughts of slide guitar.He's indisputably one of the world's best blues slide players – those skeptical need only watch the ever-viral clip of him leaving both B.B. King and John Mayer slack-jawed during a live slide workout. But to put the Tedeschi Trucks Band co-leader and latter-day Allman Brothers Band co-six-string-anchor in a blues box, so to speak, would be a grave mistake.Though the blues is and always has been a huge part of his guitar vocabulary, Trucks has also often been vocal about more...

Derek Trucks on channeling the intensity and free spirit of jazz into his guitar work, and recording with the genre's giants

George Bruns (1914-83),no relation to George Brunies, was the musical director and a major arranger for Walt Disney Studios from the mid-1950s until his retirement in 1976, composing music for many Disney films. While he played as many as 15 different instruments, he is best known in jazz for playing...

George Bruns • Deep In The Heart Of Dixieland

I’m a little too young to have experienced the philanthropic musical phenomenon that was Live Aid. Organized by Bob Geldof in 1985, the iconic charity concert raised over $100 million to help relieve a devastating famine in Ethiopia. One year earlier the pop supergroup Band Aid—composed of Boy George, Sting, George Michael, and other eighties idols—recorded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” which was, sadly, a staple of every single Christmas party I attended throughout my childhood.

The Reunion Jazz Band and The ‘Band Aid’ of Jazz

When it comes to blues guitar legends, few are as groundbreaking as T-Bone Walker. Born Aaron Thibeaux Walker on May 28, 1910, in Linden, Texas, T-Bone was a pioneering figure in the popularisation of the electric guitar, playing a crucial role in shaping the blues and influencing countless musicians that followed. Players from B.B. King and Albert King to early rock and rollers like Chuck Berry, all name him as a major influence.

His onstage antics inspired Jimi Hendrix to play with his teeth, while his groundbreaking solos influenced B.B. King, Chuck Berry and Albert King: T-Bone Walker changed the course of blues guitar playing – and the role of electric guitar in popular music

Piano players are essential to many music genres, including classical, jazz, blues, and contemporary music. Their skills range from intricate classical compositions to improvisational jazz solos and expressive pop ballads. Pianists often serve as the backbone of musical arrangements, providing harmonic structure, melody, and rhythm. Their performances can range from solo piano pieces to collaborative works with other musicians or orchestras. The versatility of the piano allows players to explore a wide range of styles and techniques, making it a central instrument in both traditional and modern music. The artistry and technical proficiency of piano players contribute significantly to the richness and diversity of musical expression.

15 Best Piano Players of All Time

New Jersey State

There were several recording stars in the 1890s and early 1900s who were known for performing ragtime songs, but one of the most famous of these was Len Spencer. His history as a ragtime singer is rather unusual, and actually includes some unexpected approval from black listeners of his recordings. While he wasn’t technically the best of these ragtime singers, his energy and style in the genre are notable.

Len Spencer: Ragtime and the Dawn of Recording

Roswell, NM

The Roswell (New Mexico) Jazz Festival takes place throughout the town mid-October. The beloved festival draws visitors from all over the U.S. and from overseas. Musicians who usually appear on the larger stages in New York City, New Orleans, or Kansas City come to the small town in the middle of the high desert. How is that possible?

Roswell’s Jazz Festival: How it Started and How it Grew

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Emily Standley Allard

Have you ever been with someone that you seem to butt heads with over every little thing? Sometimes no matter what you do or how much you love someone your relationship seems to be more like a UFC fight than a comfort zone. Your zodiac sign can offer some hidden reasons why some pairings are just plain toxic, why they clash so often and how to potentially find some middle ground.

The 7 Most Toxic Zodiac Pairings - When the Stars Don't Align

This is in all ways an astoundingly good album of timeless jazz. I am primarily impressed by the pure musicianship, but also the stylistic vision, arrangements, and a choice selection of titles that gives the album a broad appeal. Ricky Alexander knew what he was going for and brought it together.

Ricky Alexander • Just Found Joy

Saint Louis, MO

The traditional jazz world pays homage to the blues, but often in a narrow way. There are glimpses of famous streets in fabled cities, tin roofs, and royal gardens. But few musicians in that world now seem to have given themselves wholly to the blues and the music of that often overlooked city, St. Louis. And no one is doing what the singer Valerie Kirchhoff (perhaps known to some readers as “Miss Jubilee”) and her husband, pianist Ethan Leinwand, are doing right now. This musically impassioned pair offers repertoire rarely heard, with joyous playfulness.

Meet Them in St. Louis: Valerie Kirchhoff and Ethan Leinwand

Instrumental guitar music is having a moment. Offering a stellar example, Molly Miller and her trio show us “2 West,” filmed during soundcheck on their tour with Jason Mraz. The tune is from her latest album, “The Ballad of Hotspur,” and her ’52-reissue Fender Tele (modded with a different neck) is plugged into a Benson Monarch sitting just out of view. Our review of the album and and interview with Molly appear in the August issue. Read Now!

Molly Miller – top-flight instrumental rock, jazz, and twang

Music bands often soar to incredible heights, riding the waves of their captivating sounds and the charisma of their frontmen or frontwomen. Yet sometimes, the very elements that bring a band fame and fortune can also spell its downfall. In many cases, it’s the lead singers who, while they may possess extraordinary vocal talent, end up causing turmoil and even the demise of their bands. Here are seven rock bands that faced hardships or were ultimately torn apart due to the actions of their lead singers.

7 Rock Bands That Were Ruined by Their Lead Singers

Los Angeles County, CA

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Herbie J Pilato

Actor Van Johnson, who died in 2007, was one of Hollywood's ideal films idols. In the 1940s, the charming screen icon was box office gold, and remained a popular presence on TV in shows like Murder, She Wrote (which starred his good friend Angela Lansbury).

The Secret Gay Life & Horrific Car Accident of Actor Van Johnson: 16 Years After His Tragic Death

Who are the greatest guitarists of all time? This question sparks endless debates among music lovers. From rock legends to blues icons, guitarists have shaped the soundtracks of our lives. Imagine the electrifying solos, the soulful riffs, and the unforgettable melodies that have left audiences in awe. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious, this list will take you on a journey through the careers of the top 20 guitarists who have left an indelible mark on music history. Ready to dive into the world of six-string virtuosos? Let’s get started!

Top 20 Guitarists of All Time

Arizona State

Scottsdale, AZ

Citing a diminishing population of traditional jazz fans and declining attendance, Society president and Festival director Helen Daley released a statement that the upcoming Arizona Classic Jazz Festival (Oct. 31-Nov. 3) would be the last festival in a 35-year run, and that the Arizona Classic Jazz Society, which was organized in 1984, would hold its final concert-meeting on December 1, 2024.

This year’s Arizona Classic Jazz Festival will be the last

He was billed as “the 20th Century Gabriel” because of his high-note work and flamboyant solos. Very popular during his heyday and the leader of one of the most swinging bands of the Swing era, trumpeter Erskine Hawkins is often overlooked today. Even his famous original “Tuxedo Junction” is best remembered as being a hit for Glenn Miller. But as his scores of rewarding recordings show, Hawkins led one of the most consistently hot big bands of the Swing era.

Erskine Hawkins: Profiles in Jazz

Skonberg is joined by pianist Chris Pattishall, guitarist Don Vappie (who plays banjo on “Cornet Chop Suey”), bassist Grayson Brockamp, and drummer Herlin Riley with several guests, most notably tenor-saxophonist Rex Gregory and trombonist Ethan Santos on four numbers, and sousaphonist Ben Jaffe on two. The opening “Comes...

Bria Skonberg • What It Means

New Orleans, LA

Tucson, AZ

It may be hot outside but it is more than “cool” at our local jazz club, The Century Room in downtown’s Hotel Congress! The Mysterious Babies’ lead Guy Senese (cnt/sax) just returned from a trip to Turkey and related a story about the “town square’ in Ankara. He came across a Turkish bagpiper and with his trusty soprano sax by his side, Guy and the bagpiper went into a traditional “Canal Street Blues” in the middle of the square! What an experience that must have been for both of them! The evening we were there had Ron Hinkle (bj), Marco Rosano (bass sax/p), Sly Slipetsky (p/tuba), Chris Constantine (dr) and Kevin Ravelette (reeds) rounding out the Babies’ ensemble.

It’s Too Darn Hot!

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They can’t believe the employee’s response. An attempt at reviewing desserts from Crumbl Cookies took an awkward turn for two TikTokers who weren’t happy with the Oreo cheesecake.

‘They’re doing something wrong’: Crumbl customers ask for a refund after ordering Oreo cheesecake.

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Roger Marks’ Armada Jazz Band • Best Days

According to leader Roger Marks, because of “the quality of the band I had at that time,” these tracks should be made available again. All of...

Roger Marks’ Armada Jazz Band • Best Days

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