Archive - Playback with Lewis Porter!

The Word "Jazz," 7 of 7—Debunking False Theories, and Conclusions

(For the previous essays in this series, see the Index.)

14 hrs ago •

The Word "Jazz," 6 of 7: Bert Kelly's Claim, and Bad Sources

(For the previous essays in this series, see the Index.)

Nov 17 •

Ellington: Unknown Radio Interviews and Music 1940-41, 2 of 2

Last time we heard a radio interview with Ellington from 1940 that has never before been available, and a bit of music.

Nov 13 •

Ellington: Unknown Radio Interviews and Music 1940-41, 1 of 2, and a Halloween TV Show

Today we’ll hear an unknown, never before available, Ellington interview from June 12, 1940, that ends with him playing his recent composition “Never No…

Nov 9 •

Some Milestones: 200 Essays So Far, an Index, and Another National Award

I’ve just been notified that another of my articles has won the national 2024 ASCAP Virgil Thomson Award for Outstanding Music Criticism in the pop…

Nov 7 •

The Word "Jazz," 5—The Word Spreads to Music, & Tom Brown's Story (+Bonus)

(Paying Subscribers, at the bottom is a rare print interview with trombonist Tom Brown.)

Nov 2 •

October 2024

Eddie South and Milt Hinton: An Unknown 1933 Recording with a Great Backstory. Guest Post by Anthony Barnett

[Anthony Barnett is a poet, editor of the literary and arts print journal Snow lit rev, and a jazz historian specializing in violinists who has…

Oct 26 •

Art Tatum: An Unknown Version of "Yesterdays" (+Bonus)

(Paying Subscribers, at the bottom you’ll find your latest “thank you” gift—a 240-page collection of songs.

Oct 20 •

The Word "Jazz," 4 of 7: "Scoop" Gleeson's Limited Role

(For the previous essays in this series, see the Index.)

Oct 14 •

Sonny Rollins and Sonny Clark: Unissued Outtakes, 4 of 4 (+Bonus Freedom Suite Notation)

(Paying Subscribers.

Oct 10 •

Sonny Rollins and Sonny Clark: Unissued Outtakes, 3

We continue now listening to the “session reel” (the unedited recordings, in order) from the only studio meeting of Sonny Rollins and pianist Sonny…

Oct 5 •

September 2024

The Word "Jazz," 3 of 7: Bandleader Art Hickman, and More Word Meanings

In our first two explorations of the word “jazz” (see the Index) we’ve learned that it developed from “jasm” aka “jazzum,” that it was first used among…

Sep 28 •

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