Alto Attitude: Phil Lasley by Jim Gallert m One of Detroit’s finest saxophonists speaks of his musical adventures. Read complete article

Bassist Redux: The Rhythm & Tempo of Ray McKinney by Jim Gallert m McKinney, poet, musician, griot is another of Detroit’s fine bassists. He’s worked with Max Roach, Olatunji, Barry Harris and Roland Hanna, to name only a few. Read complete article

Bobo Jenkins: A Bluesman’s Journey By Fred Reif m Bobo (1916–1984) was quite a character, but more than anyone else at the time, singlehandedly breathed life into Detroit’s often-overlooked blues scene. Read complete article

Bebop and Beyond: Sheila Jordan Speaks By Charles L. Latimer m Although a bebopper at heart, Jordan has performed with musicians as diverse as trumpeter Don Cherry, vocalist Carla Bley, pianist Don Pullen and trombonist Roswell Rudd. Read complete article

Maurice King: Music Master by Jim Gallert with Lars Bjorn m King (1911 – 1992) led the houseband at Detroit’s fabled Flame Show Bar, primary outlet for black entertainment in the 1950s. He was Music Director at the Fox Theater, wrote music for “A Century Of Progress”, arranger/music director for the Spinners. But he was much more than the sum of his many talents. Gallert (and Bjorn) chronicle his life and times. Read complete article

Willie Anderson: Forgotten Detroit Piano Wizard by Jim Gallert with Lars Bjorn m When Detroit pianists are discussed, Willie A is rarely if ever mentioned. Yet some musicians think he was the greatest of them all. W_Anderson.pdf To view download Adobe Reader http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Alma Smith: The Countess Of Swing by Jim Gallert m Pianist Alma Smith has created music since she was a little girl in the 1930s. A child prodigy, Smith began working professionally while in her teens and never stopped! She's a fine Organist and plays a mean set of vibes – just ask Terry Gibbs! A_Smith .pdf To view download Adobe Reader http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Baker's Keyboard Lounge: A Detroit Classic by Lars Bjorn and Jim Gallert m From its humble beginnings in 1934, Baker's grew into THE club in Detroit associated with jazz. Bjorn and Gallert provide a concise history of this world-famous nightspot.Bakers.pdf To view download Adobe Reader http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Blue Sensation: The Todd Rhodes story, by Jim Gallert m Rhodes (1900 – 1965) had a career which spanned sixty years, from McKinney’s Syncos (later McKinney’s Cotton Pickers) to his own band, a red-hot R&B combo that recorded a series of brilliant discs for Sensation and King. Coming Soon

Johnny Allen: Detroit Piano Man by Jim Gallert m Pianist, arranger, composer, bandleader… Allen led the Club Congo Orchestra, a focal point for younger Detroit musicians in the early 1940s, played with Bull Moose Jackson, Lucky Millinder, toiled in the Motown studios, worked at practically every club in the city. Coming Soon

Mathew Rucker and the Spirits of Swing by Jim Gallert m Trumpeter Mathew Rucker’s late-1930s band included his lifelong friend Bill Evans (Yusef Lateef) and future Motown session man Willie Shorter. He led bands in the city until he quit the music business to drive a cab. He ended up owning Blue Eagle Cab Company. Coming Soon