Cover Story: Black and “White” (and Syncopatin’ All Over)

The April 2024 issue of The Syncopated Times, independent monthly newspaper out of Utica, New York, has on its front page my interview with jazz musician, actor, and author Steve Provizer. Our topic was the legacy of mixed-race jazz recordings, as described in his book, As Long As They Can Blow: Interracial Jazz Recordings and Other Jive Before 1935. The book includes an extensive and very useful discography of these records.

I also recorded my conversation with Steve, added musical selections, and aired the program as a “Crazy Words, Crazy Tune” special, which you can hear below.

“Crazy Words, Crazy Tune”: Interracial Jazz Special with Steve Provizer, April 12, 2024, pt. 1

“Crazy Words, Crazy Tune”: Interracial Jazz Special with Steve Provizer, April 12, 2024, pt. 2

(By the way, I’m subversively proud that early in my talk with Steve I mentioned that I’ve ceased using the word “white” to refer to a racial/ethnic/skin-color category, and trotted out the alternative I like to propose: “person of pallor.” I certainly hope this locution spreads!)