The involvement of women in the all-male world of jazz as early as the 1920s, not merely being singers and accompanists on piano or percussion, but also as various instrumentalists, composers, and arrangers. The evolution of this genre would be incomplete without the presence of such pioneers or trailblazers as The Boswell Sisters, Lil Hardin, […]readmore
In 1939, the art director at Columbia Records, Alex Steinweiss, realized that the record industry had to make their record covers more appealing so as to attract potential buyers for their art form. It was not enough to denote an artist’s product by simply stamping their name in black and gold paper sleeves for 78rpm […]readmore
Occasionally I have been asked by people why a ‘nickname’; and why would anybody ever go to the trouble of trying to get an autograph. The latter question will be addressed in a future article, but for now I will attempt to explain why there exists an abundance of nicknames in communal environments for the […]readmore
I often thank God when it comes to turns or twists of fate in one’s destiny; and the fact that one of jazz’s finest pianists, composers, and combo leaders nearly became a vet instead of the famous jazz master into which he evolved. Before he ventured into the army, he founded an octet and then […]readmore
It could not have been an easy task being in the shadows of the greatest jazz composer of all time; but because of his extraordinary gifts as an arranger, composer, pianist and occasional lyricist, Billy ‘Swee Pea’ Strayhorn managed just fine, and. in fact, I believe he became one the greatest composers of improvised music […]readmore
With Remembrance Day festivities a week away, I ponder, as I do every year, the significant music that was produced during one of mankind’s darkest periods in history; namely World War 2. The popular songs created ranged from patriotic to romantic and sentimental. This was an era where big bands and the wing era prevailed. […]readmore
An incomparable singer of American popular standards, country, blues, Broadway and film, big band, children’s songs, songs, seasonal, and jazz recently turned 96 and became the oldest vocalist ever to release a new album that may very well win him another Grammy Award with Lady Gaga. However, the process was not without its challenges in […]readmore
One of Canada’s greatest musical exports has once again been honoured with a commemorative coin, released on his birthdate, August 15 (1925), as was a stamp on the same day in 2007. I do not believe that any other musical artist or group has ever been honoured in our country with both a symbol and […]readmore
Music has always played an important role in the film industry, and jazz is no exception by any stretch of imagination, beginning with the first talking movie in 1927 The Jazz Singer, to New Orleans in 1947 with Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, to Alex North’s first full score jazz-orientated movie, A Streetcar Named Desire […]readmore
Throughout the 20th century, Canada has produced its share of international jazz artists for the world to embrace. Although some of the orchestras like Guy Lombardo Dal Richards, and Mart Kenny were mainly designed to please audiences in a ballroom setting for dancing purposes, they still contributed superior music. in many cases. so that primary […]readmore
