Big Band and Swing

The New Crusaders

TSU restarts its jazz program, tapping into the talents of the fabled Joe Sample and kids looking for a place to play.

Saturday Night: Brian Setzer Orchestra's "Christmas Rocks" at Arena Theatre

Brian Setzer Orchestra Arena Theatre December 15, 2012 Within the taxonomy of rock and roll, rockabilly (bless its hot rod heart) can get dismissed as a one-trick pony with a ducktail for a mane and flames painted on its haunches. At least it can by people who see only kitsch when they should be lo ... More >>

The Chitlin' Circuit: Road to Rock & Roll Ran Straight Through Houston

Above: Walter Barnes and the Royal Creolians, the first kings of the Chitlin' Circuit Most music critics, writers, historians, and aficianados in Houston don't think this city has ever gotten enough credit for its contributions to blues, soul, and, the Holy Grail, the birth of rock and roll. Well, ... More >>

Grady Gaines, the Upsetter

Houston sax lion has always been in the "hottest band around."

Thunder Soul: Kashmere Stage Band Rumbles Onto Big Screen

Photos courtesy of thundersoulmovie.comHow many high-school bands can you name that had their own publicity shots?​It's hard enough to believe that a single high-school stage band could win 42 out of 46 competitions entered throughout the '70s. It's even harder to believe that the same band th ... More >>

Ray Benson: "Before Keith Richards, There Was Bob Wills"

​Although he grew up outside Philadelphia, Ray Benson is the quintessential Texas musician. Somewhere in his rambling South Austin studio/office compound is a proclamation declaring him the 2004 official state musician, not to mention the umpteen Grammys he's won as front man and bandleader of ... More >>

Barrie Hall Jr., TSU And Duke Ellington Alum, Dies At 61

UPDATED at 4:49 p.m. with more information. ​Barrie Lee Hall Jr., whom Duke Ellington plucked out of Texas Southern University to join his orchestra and later became its leader, passed away Monday at age 61. The cause was complications from diabetes, Hall's wife Lula told Billie Duncan of th ... More >>

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Five '90s Musical Fads We Remember Well, But Don't Really Miss

​A little over a decade ago, swing music made a strange comeback. You may remember seeing people all over dressing like '40s hipsters, jumping and jiving in Gap commercials and most every club or bar was offering swing lessons. It started with the release of the film Swingers, which still mi ... More >>

Michelle Shocked

Harvest Moon Ball

Houston Swing Dance Society flips into fall with a ball

The Ballad of Peck Kelley

Life magazine has thrown open its photo archives. Already, 500,000 of what they say will be 10,000,000 images are on the Web. I did a quick search, and the shots are pretty fantastic, but apparently Life’s photographers weren’t all that drawn to Houston’s music. Except, that is, for this o ... More >>

McCoy Tyner Trio

Tenth Annual UH Moores Jazz Festival

Saxophonist Vincent Herring trades licks with local musicians

Houston’s Golden Horn Is Silenced: Calvin Owens, R.I.P.

Via Colori

The Center for Hearing and Speech takes over Sam Houston Park for an all-out street-painting festival

“Jazz: A Tribute to the Big Band Era”

Conrad Johnson celebrates National Jazz Month

Polyphonic Spree

Polyphonic Spree performs Monday, June 25, at Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, 713-225-5483.

Here's Two You

Roseanna Vitro

Saturday, December 28

The Nickel Burger

How is a falling-apart Fifth Ward joint turning out the best burgers in town? Adrian's has history.

Illinois Jacquet

Jumpin' at Apollo (Delmark)

Label Proof

Austin's Spankers seem to add new fans daily. And none of them can figure out what the band does.

For Swingers Only

Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

The "It" Guy

It's hard not to dig local saxophonist David Caceres

Scat's First Lady

Anita O'Day gets her due in new boxed set

Soul Brother No. 1

Top 10 reasons why Ray Charles is a genius

Jazz for the Masses

Smart Pop

Old Friends

Static

A Feel for the Real

Swing Crazy

Swing Time

The Royal Crown Revue doesn't just lounge around

Dutch Treat

Junior or Joke?

Bob Wills' family disowns the man claiming to be the prince of Western swing

Press Picks

Good Vibes

Elder statesman of getting down: Fusion vibist Harry Sheppard

The Emperor of Swing

Gilbert and Sullivan go steppin' out in TUTS' Hot Mikado