The Best Traditional Jazz Musicians Honored!

The other day we had the privilege of honoring Bix Beiderbecke, on his home turf. Sunnyside Shines asked us to put together a program of Bix’s music to honor of the late, great jazz pioneer.

The cornetist, who lived the last years of his life in NYC, was a pioneer in the early jazz and dixieland music of the 1920’s and prohibition-era America. Originally from Davenport, IA, Bix moved to New York City to work with the biggest bands of the era. He was very influential in the sound and development of Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhardt, and to this day looms large with his influence and music.

With assistance by Jon-Erik Kellso (Jazz at Lincoln Center, Louis Armstrong House Museum), we dusted off the old standards and let ‘em rip with antics and grooves. Bix lives as we got to reintroduce the people of Queens, NY to their forgotten icon. Hope to do it again next year.