The spirit of Louis Armstrong is never far from us. If we’re lucky, the music that reflects his ideals — melody, passion, subtlety and power — isn’t too far off, either. The EarRegulars, no matter what they might be playing ..read more

Subscribe Phil Schaap (1951-2021) was a remarkable individual with a ferocious devotion to the music he loved. Record producer, concert promoter, sound restorer, Grammy-winner, educator, scholar, archivist, and, yes, radio broadcaster on WKCR-FM for fifty years, a span of time I think unmatched. I heard Phil on the radio early, and saw him on Zoom with Matthew Rivera’s Hot Club of New York near the end of his life. I also encountered him in person a few times, since we haunted the same spaces now and again, for the sake of this holy art. His physical presence is gone but he is audibly with ..read more

Subscribe The EarRegulars continue to pile bliss upon bliss! First, trio sonatas by Dennis Lichtman, clarinet; Matt Munisteri, guitar; Jay Rattman, bass saxophone, here. Then, the arrival of Jon-Erik Kellso, trumpet, ready to play, here. What happened next, even though I distrust hyperbole, I call a masterpiece. YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME, the Rodgers and Hart whimsical love song from 1927, is often taken as a bouncy dance or even faster, although speed tends to flatten out its loveliness. The EarRegulars envisioned it as a slow saunter, sly, loving, and witty. Don’t miss Jon-Erik’s admiring ..read more

Subscribe Find a calm spot. Turn the bright lighting down. Put your phone away and listen. I think that’s remarkable — in this age of blare and pound. But it would be remarkable in any time and place. FROM ME TO YOU is a new CD by the tender duo of Petra van Nuis, voice, and Dennis Luxion, piano. They have an “afterglow” gig, Saturday nights from 11 PM to 1 AM, at Chicago’s Le Piano, and this CD duplicates that experience, but even better, because the clink of glassware and the sound of quiet conversation is absent. You can go through your mental file cabinet to decide WHO Petra and Dennis ..read more

Subscribe Worth a trip from anywhere. The band. Danny Tobias, trumpet, flugelhorn, Eb alto horn; Vince Giordano, bass saxophone, tuba, aluminum double bass, tenor guitar, vocal; Randy Reinhart, trombone, euphonium; Arnt Arntzen, banjo, guitar; vocal. The place Brith Sholom, 1900 West Macada Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Jazz Society! SMILES: Arnt sings AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, with the verse: It never gets old. Danny Tobias tells a story, then plays ONE HOUR on the Eb alto horn: Vince brings his secret weapon to HONEYSUCKLE ROSE: Gret unpretentious expert lively m ..read more

Subscribe Former President Grant was thrilled to have this party at his house in St. Louis on June 20, 2024. The entertainment: Valerie Kirchhoff, vocal, ukulele; Ethan Leinwand, piano; Andy Schumm, clarinet; cornet; T.J. Muller, cornet, trombone, guitar, washboard; Richard Tralles, double bass. In song, Valerie tells the faithless lover, “You don’t know how sorry you are going to be,” words to live by: That’s some deep music, isn’t it. Into the future: Valerie, Ethan, Andy, and T.J. will be part of the great Redwood Coast Music Festival. Shall we see you there? May your happiness increas ..read more

Subscribe The Andrew Oliver – Hal Smith Hot Peppers did a superb job at the 2024 Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. They are T. J. Muller, cornet; Colin Hancock, trombone; Andy Schumm, clarinet (and second piano on BLACK BOTTOM STOMP), Andrew Oliver, piano; John Gill, banjo and vocal; Dan Anderson, double bass; Hal Smith, drums. BLACK BOTTOM STOMP: SMOKE-HOUSE BLUES: GRANDPA’S SPELLS: MISTER JOE: STATE AND MADISON: SIDEWALK BLUES: ORIGINAL JELLY ROLL BLUES: FICKLE FAY CREEP: DOCTOR JAZZ: I think you would have to turn the volume up to hear what the au ..read more

Subscribe Peace and passion combined. Frank Chace, clarinet; James Dapogny, piano; Wayme Jones, drums. Recorded at Jim’s house, December 30, 1965. I’M COMIN’ VIRGINIA, a tender hymn to the past, to beloved ghosts, to the possibilities of songful melody. Make a space in your day (or night) to listen, quietly. Bless these three artists for the shy fragile cathedral they built for us in six minutes. And thanks to Hal Smith for his invaluable assistance. May your happiness increase ..read more

Subscribe My wife and I had breakfast with the fine singer Angela Verbrugge this morning. Not, alas, in actuality, because Angela may be on her way back from gigs in Taiwan. But we had the great pleasure of listening to her new CD, SOMEWHERE. I was struck, once again, by her wooing mixture of girlish playfulness over deeply serious emotions. Rarely do I listen to CDs all the way through in one sitting, but SOMEWHERE is a charming exception. Here are two samples, one sweetly romantic: and romance that first saunters, then gallops: And let us celebrate pianist Ray Gallon, double bassists Ca ..read more

Subscribe Sunday nights at The Ear Inn (326 Spring Street, Soho,New York) continue to be a place of magic: it’s been this way since the summer of 2007, which is beyond remarkable in a city (and a world) where steady gugs at the same location are counted in weeks, not decades. This remarkable winning streak for the EarRegulars, guided by Jon-Erik Kellso, Puje trumpet, and Matt Munisteri, guitar and occasional vocal, is a marvelous testament to their creativity, tenacity, and commitment to beauty. They attract the best musicians on the planet, and joy comes out exponentially. Sunday, July 7 ..read more