The stride and swing piano tradition of the early 20th century was preserved through the playing of pianist and musicologist James Dapogny. Together with his small combo, the Chicago Jazz Band -- featuring Jon-Eric Kellso (trumpet), Mike Karoub (bass), Russ Whitman (reeds), Kim Cusack (reeds), Chris Smith (trombone), Rod McDonald (guitar, banjo), and Wayne Jones (drums) -- Dapogny recorded seven albums of ragtime, New Orleans and Chicago jazz, and small-band swing. The band, which made semi-regular appearances on National Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion was also featured on albums by the Andrews Sisters-like trio Chenille Sisters and late jazz-blues pianist Sippie Wallace. They celebrated their 20th anniversary with a live album, On the Road, in 1995. Deeply influenced by the piano playing of Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941), Dapogny wrote the liner notes for a series of Morton's recordings issued by the Library of Congress and Rounder Records and edited the scholarly book Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton: The Collected Piano Music, published by Schirmer, Inc. Dapogny recorded two albums -- Laughing at Life and Original Jelly Roll Blues -- featuring his interpretations of Morton's music. The holder of a doctorate of musical arts in composition, Dapogny taught at the University of Michigan beginning in 1966. He received a faculty recognition award and Thurnau professorship for outstanding teaching in 1982. He also served as an editor and editorial board member for Jazz Masterworks Editions, a collaborative project of Oberlin College and the Smithsonian Institute. Following his retirement from teaching, Dapogny stayed active, often playing in small groups, and leading his large ensemble Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings (aka P.O.R.K.). He died on March 6, 2019 at age 78 after a long battle with cancer. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi