Columbus, OH

New Orleans, LA

Jeff Barnhart: Hal my friend, you’ve chosen a musician I know little about, but whose work I’ve heard—and very much enjoyed in the past. Since he’s not a household name like some previous greats we’ve discussed, I hope you won’t mind if I start with a few questions? We’re taking a close look at cornetist Johnny Wiggs’ life and recorded work. I know he was born and died in New Orleans (1899-1977) but I’m intrigued that his first recordings were as leader of a group called John Hyman’s Bayou Stompers. It appears he is Mr. Hyman, so why the name change (one way or the other)? Was the family name Wiggs or Hyman?

John Hyman, aka Johnny Wiggs, Part One

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

In Italian there is a wonderful expression, “sensa parole,” meaning “beyond words.” It’s the only way I can define Ascona in the Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland. Often called the “The Pearl of Lake Maggiore” it truly is impossible to describe. On our fifth visit in seven years, I can only repeat what I wrote in 2022: “this festival has an intimacy that words alone cannot convey… Ascona dedicates the whole historic town to The New Orleans Experience. Live music is everywhere. Turn a corner in the narrow streets and find a group of buskers. Pass by a restaurant and the sounds of New Orleans wafts out.” With the official stages set up along lake side front, just standing on one’s hotel balcony puts one at the heart of the activity. All this against the background of the spectacular scenery of Lake Maggiore.

Summer Delight in Switzerland: Ascona Jazz Fest 2024

North Carolina State

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Winston-salem, NC

Town Talks

A North Carolina restaurant serves fried chicken in a “spicy, savory” sauce — and fans can’t get enough. So much so, the restaurant now ranks as the state’s No. 1 place to eat fried chicken.

Best fried chicken in North Carolina is at this restaurant, Yelp says. Why it’s No. 1

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

American Songwriter

B-sides of singles were usually throwaways. If a song was a success, the record company would not want to have another hit on the same platter. The main goal is to sell records. If a song gets hot, you want the consumer to look forward to the next release and buy it, not already own it because it is on the same record. There are many instances where a B-side became the big hit. Country singles in the 1940s typically would relegate a slower song to the B-side. The conventional thinking was the uptempo numbers would be the big sellers.

The Story Behind “Cold, Cold Heart” by Hank Williams and How a B-Side Became a Timeless Classic

Las Vegas, NV

DoYouRemember?

Elvis Presley’s stepbrother from his father’s marriage to Davada Stanley Presley recently hosted a show titled My Brother Elvis with Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. David Stanley clarified some myths about his late older brother during the program and debunked rumors that have lasted for decades. One...

Elvis Presley’s Stepbrother Addresses Ongoing Rumors About Late King Of Rock And Roll

From 1952 to 1966, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was one of the most culturally relevant and popular shows on TV. It catapulted married couple Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and their real-life sons David and Ricky to stardom, and also served as a launching pad for Ricky Nelson to become the Justin Bieber of his time. In the early ‘90s, Ricky’s twin boys became pop stars in their own right. So what happened to the Nelson family?

What happened to the Nelson family from ‘The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet’?

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

Los Angeles, CA

In the music world, the name Santana is synonymous with the singular Carlos Santana—and rightfully so. The Mexican musician was among the first to fuse rock and roll with Latin jazz, and he did so while playing some supremely psychedelic guitar playing. The result? A nearly-60-year career that’s netted...

Santana Puts Family Legacy On ‘Supernatural’ Display At L.A.’s Kia Forum [Videos]

Herbie J Pilato

It's been eight years since former TV child star Sawyer Sweeten, best known from Everybody Loves Raymond, died tragically by suicide at only 19 years old. Sawyer Sweeten, his twin brother Sullivan Sweeten, and their older sister Madylin, played Ray Romano's TV children on Everybody Loves Raymond, the Emmy-winning sitcom that originally aired on CBS 1996 to 2005.

The Tragic Suicide of Former TV Child Star Sawyer Sweeten ('Everybody Loves Raymond'): 9 Years Later

Thank you for featuring Arbors Records above the fold (“Rachel Domber and Arbors: A Great Jazz Legacy Continues,” TST, August 2024). During my 2007 interview with Mat Domber he offered two memorable quotes. “I’m not a musician. I decided I would leave the music to the musicians. Occasionally I might have an opinion, but I don’t know as much about music as Ruby Braff or Kenny Davern or any of these people. But a strange thing started to happen, they would ask me for my opinion. I was always very flattered when Kenny Davern would say, ‘Well which take did you prefer?’ And I’d think to myself, My God, you’re asking me?” And this gem: “Good music is good music. If you label something as Dixieland, people think of Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, of sleeve garters and striped shirts. They forget the musical importance of that style and the difficulty of creating it. It’s a kind of music that’s so easy to play poorly and so difficult to play well.” Mat and Rachel Domber = Jazz Heroes.

Letters September 2024

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

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 the players were, in Marks’ judgment, “outstanding.” This rating is amply substantiated by the personnel; and guest on clarinet Pete Allen, who also leads his own band, has no problem fitting right in as if he were a regular member.

Roger Marks’ Armada Jazz Band • Best Days

South Carolina State

Beech Island, SC

Billboard


				













	Mr. David Washington stands on the grounds that he has tended for decades, amid the Georgia Pines that flood much of the property, as the early-morning June heat creeps across the lawns. Now in his 70s, he’s quick to laugh and does so often, each one punctuating his thick, Southern drawl as he tells the story of the day, some 35 years ago, when Mr. James Brown called out to him and changed his life.James Brown Estate: Photos From the Billboard Shoot




	It was the late 1980s, and Mr. Washington, as everyone calls him, had gotten off a 12-hour shift at the...

Inside James Brown’s House: Can It Become the Next Graceland?

The Grateful Dead’s extensive catalog is filled with songs that showcase their unique sound, lyrical depth, and musical evolution. These 20 songs represent the spirit of the Grateful Dead—an ever-evolving, genre-defying band whose music continues to inspire and captivate listeners worldwide:. Scarlet/Fire (Live ’77) This track features...

The 20 Songs That Can Represent The Career Of The Grateful Dead

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

Cleveland, OH

Ozzy Osbourne has been dealing with various health issues in recent years, but that won’t stop him from attending his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist this year. The Metal Madman has issued a statement confirming he’ll be at the ceremony, which takes place October 19 in Cleveland.

Ozzy Osbourne Announces He’s “Really Looking Forward to Attending” the 2024 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony

Kansas City, MO

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CJ Coombs

A well-liked Kansas City chef in the Brookside area was killed near his restaurant. Two suspects were arrested. The chef was 44-year-old Shaun Brady. He was just taking out the trash. Several people were loitering in the back around parked cars.

Another senseless shooting ended the life of a well-liked Kansas City chef

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

Lavender marriage is a term and practice that's been around for decades. The practice began in the early 20th century and was often associated with LGBTQ+ film stars of the time. The marriage is one of convenience between two people, often one or both of who are LGBTQ+.

Lavender Marriages Are Becoming More Popular

NewsBreak

A Headful of Baseball and Keys: Encounters with Joe Robichaux

My professional baseball career happened entirely inside my head. What went on in there may or may not interest you, but for me it—both the career...

A Headful of Baseball and Keys: Encounters with Joe Robichaux

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