Category: Jazz Rag

Spring 2021

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Featuring:

• Exclusive interview with Darius and Chris Brubeck about continuing the family legacy with the new Time OutTakes release.
• A tribute to legendary trumpet man Eddie Blair from Bruce Adams
• Ron Simpson takes us on a musical tour of the 50 states of America and the jazz numbers written about each of them
• Scott Yanow assesses The Class of 1921
• Californian sax star Jeff Clayton remembered by Peter Vacher
• Patti Durham pays tribute to pianist Keith Nichols
• Digby Fairweather reflects on the unique talents of Brian Lemon
• Jim Simpson speaks to Gef Lucena from Saydisc about their newly reissued Matchbox Bluesmaster series in the latest edition of our Henry’s Blueshouse takeover section
• And a blizzard of book and CD reviews

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Continuing our series of profiles of great jazzmen from a golden age of jazz, one of the finest of today’s saxmen, Alan Barnes, writes about the unique qualities of the much-missed Dick Morrissey.

Deprived by coronavirus of the chance to hear virtuoso French boogie pianist Ben Toury at the Birmingham, Sandwell and Westside Jazz Festival, Ron Simpson investigates his story and the development of his original style.

We look back on the unusual career of the late Dr. Frank Minyard, jazz trumpeter and (for 40 years) New Orleans coroner.

Ron Simpson interviews celebrated percussionist, Marilyn Mazur, about her latest album on Stunt Records.

One of the finest ever alto saxophonists in British jazz, Peter King, died recently. Roger Cotterrill pays tribute.

California-based jazz guru, Scott Yanow, examines the recording career of Louis Armstrong and chooses his top 50 tracks.

Articles on Jazz in Time of Plague will include piquant observations on staging a jazz festival (in Birmingham) in a world of constantly changing rules and restrictions.

Highly regarded jazz promoter, John Billett, makes his choices in I Get a Kick Out Of… Jazz Rag pays tribute to the outstanding trombonist Roy Williams, deservedly awarded the MBE in the recent Honours List.

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Autumn 2020

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Featuring

• Annie Ross, Britain’s international jazz singing star, who died in July – a personal tribute and reminiscence from award-winning singer Val Wiseman.
• Scott Yanow, top American jazz writer, delves back into the history of V-discs, the records that won the war.
• Trombonist/arranger Callum Au gives the background on his acclaimed new album with Claire Martin, Songs and Stories.
• Recently retired jazz pianist Brian Dee, the Melody Maker’s New Star of 1960, reflects on his 60 years of music – which include working with Bing Crosby, Miles Davis, Johnny Mercer and more
• Ron Simpson investigates the comedy jazz band phenomenon with Bob Kerr, late of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, the New Vaudeville Band and his own Whoopee Band.
• Paolo Fornara of hot Italian group The Jim Dandies gives us his personal choice of musical favourites.
• AND we ask a selection of noted jazz figures the question on everyone’s lips, ‘What did you do in the Lockdown?’ Share the experiences of top singer Claire Martin, famed writer Scott Yanow, Festival Director Denny Ilett, award-winning blogger Lance Liddle, top trumpeter Digby Fairweather and many more.
• Plus an outbreak of news and reviews

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Spring 2020

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The special lockdown edition, featuring:

• Al Gay remembered by Simon Spillett
• Interview with Danish singer Sinne Eeg
• Scott Yanow’s lockdown DVD tips
• Peter Vacher’s adventures in the interviewing game
• Ron Simpson looks back on poet and jazz enthusiast Philip Larkin
• Tributes to Dick Laurie, Ellis Marsalis Jr and Bucky Pizzarelli

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Jazz Rag 160

Winter 2020

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Packed with the usual flush of news, reviews and features, including:

• Alan Barnes on John Barnes
• Jack Sheldon Remembered
• Scott Yanow on the The Class of 1920
• How The Roaring Twenties Got Going

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THE JAZZ RAG 159

Winter 2019

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Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

• Blue Note at 80
• Ronnies at 60
• Scott Yanow on the Indispensable Christmas Jazz Recordings
• 2019 British Jazz Awards Results Announced
• Roy Williams: an appreciation

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The Jazz Rag 158

Autumn 2019

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Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

• Armstrong in Europe
• Chris Barber Retires
• 60 Years of Davis and Evans’ Porgy & Bess
• 2019 British Jazz Awards Nominations Announced
• Dick Laurie reveals Sandy Brown’s One Great Fault

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THE JAZZ RAG 157

Summer 2019

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Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

• Which legendary jazz composer emptied his stomach over Art Themen’s sax case
• Scott Hamilton on his globetrotting career
• The Barber Band at 70
• Simon Spillett on an unexpected gift
• Why Alex Clarke is the less predictable face of the future
• 30 jazz biographies to read before you die

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THE JAZZ RAG 156

Spring 2019

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Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

• The second half of our 2019 Festivals Guide
• How Paris is once again becoming the epicentre of continental jazz
• Scott Yanow’s pick of 40 all time jazz violin greats
• Kicking up a storm in Scotland with The Tenement Jazz Band
• Live reviews from Wisconsin to Chester le Street

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The Jazz Rag 154

Winter 2018

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Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

• 20 Recording Sessions I Wish Had Happened by Scott Yanow
• Dave Newton on what made him the pianist he is
• I Get A Kick Out Of… – the first in a new series
• Xhosa Cole: profile of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of The Year
• The Jazz Centre UK relaunches
• Plus a festoon of news and reviews

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The Jazz Rag 153

Autumn 2018

Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

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The Jazz Rag 152

Summer 2018

Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

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The Jazz Rag 150

Winter 2018

Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

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The Jazz Rag 149

Winter 2017

Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

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The Jazz Rag 148

Autumn 2017

Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

Dave Green’s journey from playing with a teenage Rolling Stone to backing Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster

Simon Spillett tells some of his most memorable anecdotes from 10 years of playing at the Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell Jazz Festival

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The Jazz Rag 147

Summer 2017

Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:

Trumpeters on Retrospective Records: Digby Fairweather tells Ron Simpson about getting his favourite jazz trumpet players on CD

The Return of Gene Perla: Eminent American bassist talks playing with Elvin Jones and Nina Simone, and more

Clark Tracey: On dad Stan, putting on clubs and festivals and Whiplash

Missing Links: Scott Yanow looks at some pivotal and underappreciated figures in jazz history

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