In This Issue - Sacramento Ragtime Society

by Merv Graham
he annual West Coast Ragtime Festival, which concluded just a short time
ago, was by all accounts another roaring
success. Due to the limited time we have
available, we won't be able to include any
T
In This Issue
detailed report on the festival at this time,
but the December issue will feature a full
fledged review. Suffice it to say, "It was
Great!!"
Sprinkled throughout this issue you
will find an assortment of festival pictures.
by Chris Bradshaw, Competition Coordinator
Out of the 67 students, 28 were rerecord number of student—sixty sevturnees
from last year’s competition and
en in all—from all over California
seven
of
those were honored for having
jammed Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento
entered
the
competition for three or more
on November 7th for the Fifth Annual
years.
It’s
gratifying
to hear the growth in
West Coast Ragtime Society Youth Compettheir
playing
as
these
returning students
ition. Taking on the day like junior pros,
mature
in
their
quest
for musical excelthese talented youngsters from ages 8-17,
lence.
rocked the Cathedral with their joyful playing and youthful exuberance.
To pull off a day like this, it takes
Not only did the number of kids go much effort from many people. We
up significantly, but also the quality of the couldn’t do this without all the help we get
playing hit new heights. And it is no won- from our wonderful SRS members. Lewis
der that the playing level was so high, as a Motisher works tirelessly all year on the
total of 447 years of piano lessons went in- competition designing the flyer, and produto the making of this competition. Trans- cing the wonderful Sampler CD that goes
lated, that means thousands upon out to all participants. Another person
thousands of hours of lessons from dedic- who puts months and months of work into
ated piano teachers and parents who over- the competition is Bev Eggers who handles
see practice sessions. Is it worth the effort? the large number of entry forms, and this
You betcha. Between 100-125 people were year also provided the lunch for the crew.
present for the individual division sessions, Bob Gonzales created the beautiful badges
to revel in this jam-packed day of some very and certificates for the finalists. Helen
exciting ragtime performances.
A
See
continued on page 5
By Chris & Jack Bradshaw
A
n afternoon of Tom Foolery (actually Tom-less Foolery), SRS
never ceases to amaze in variety and style, even with many
off to Pismo Beach for a jazz festival. Halloween numbers, peppy
rags, and delightful period songs kept the room humming, toes
tapping and hearts a flutter. Based on a tip from Andrew Barrett,
Elliott was able to procure and perform what might be considered
the find of the year--the lively Bugatti Step by Jaroslav J
, who is
considered the Czech Gershwin. Love was also in the air from Felix Arndt’s gift to his fiancee Nola to Chris Bradshaw’s
“something borrowed” corruption of Daisy Bell in honor of honeymooners, Steve and Mandi Johnson. Now, hit up the West Coast
Festival this coming month and we’ll see you all back at our
December 27th meeting.
THE PORCUPINE RAGTIME ENSEMBLE
Elliott Adams, piano; Petra Sullivan, violin; Bub Sullivan, mandolin, cümbüsh, *vocal; Robyn Drivon, tuba; Steve Drivon,
drums, #vocal
Shiftless Sam
Carlotta Williamson, 1904
Tango
Joe Jordan, 1913
*#The Japanese Sandman
Raymond B. Egan & Richard A. Whiting, 1920
*Rastus on Parade
Frederick A. “Kerry” Mills, 1895
Merry Whirl (One Step)
Julius Lenzberg, 1915
*You and the Moon and a Ragtime Tune
Albert Von Tilzer, 1913
Chris and Jack Bradshaw, four-hand piano; Robyn Drivon, tuba;
Steve Drivon, drums; Petra Sullivan, violin; Bub Sullivan, mandolin
Ragged Jack
Jack Bradshaw, 1909
RAGNOLIA RAGTETTE
Chris and Jack Bradshaw, four-hand piano; Robyn Drivon, tuba;
Steve Drivon, drums
Ballin’ the Jack
Chris Smith & James Reese Europe, 1914
Rabbit’s Foot
George L. Cobb, 1915
Nola
Felix Arndt, 1915
Elliott Adams, piano
Hallowe’en (The Jack O’Lantern Rag)Arthur Manlowe (Abe Olman),
1911
Sunflower Tickle Dolly Richmond (Percy Wenrich), 1908
Bugatti Step
Jaroslav J
, 1931
Jack Bradshaw, piano
Mephistopheles’ Two Step (A Rag for Halloween) Galen Wilkes, 1980
Old Adam (Two Step)
William Bolcom, 1969
Pegasus
James Scott, 1920
Chris and Jack Bradshaw, four-hand piano; Petra Sullivan, violin;
Bub Sullivan, mandolin
Cakewalking Through Kansas
Galen Wilkes, 1992
Coon Hollow Capers
Frank R. Gillis, 1899
South Valley Rag
Chris Bradshaw, 2003
Elliott Adams, piano; Petra Sullivan, violin; Bub Sullivan, mandolin
Black Beauty
Ed Kuhn, 1904
Hunky Dory (Cakewalk)
Abe Holzmann, 1900
Peaceful Henry
E. Harry Kelly, 1901
Petra Sullivan, piano; Bub Sullivan, mandolin
Vals De Alejandra
Enrique Mora, 1907
Cotton Babes
Percy Wenrich, 1909
Pansy Blossoms
Charles L. Johnson, 1909
Elliott Adams, piano; Jack Bradshaw, piano; Chris Bradshaw, vocal; Bub Sullivan, vocal, mandolin; Petra Sullivan, violin; SRS
Chorus
Daisy Bell (for Steve and Mandi)
Harry Dacre, arr. Chris Bradshaw, 1902
Chris and Jack Bradshaw, four-hand piano
The Phantom
Melody Bober, 1998
Cradle Rock
Abe Frankl & Phil. Kornheiser, 1916
Champagne Rag
Joseph Lamb, 1910
Kalimba Capers - A Ghostly Dance
Chris Bradshaw, 2005
Elliott Adams, piano
Snowy Morning Blues
Fig Leaf Rag
In A Mist
James P. Johnson, 1927
Scott Joplin, 1908
Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke, 1927
Jack Bradshaw, piano
Kentucky Gentleman
Jack Rummel, 1996
From Lone Jack to Knob Noster (The Rolling Road to Ragtime)
Jack Rummel, 1993
Show-Me Rag (A Missouri Defiance)
Trebor Tichenor, 1966
Steve Johnson, piano
Solace (A Mexican Serenade)
Gladiolus Rag
We welcome new SRS member
John Plut
Daly City CA
Scott Joplin, 1909
Scott Joplin, 1907
By Fred Hoeptner
y 1913 Victorian mores were beginning to erode, a process that reached a
climax, or at least a plateau, with the roaring twenties. The cakewalk was passé and
the animal dance craze had come into
vogue, commonly performed to ragtime
music. But still moralistic do-gooders disparaged many of the dances.
An Associated Press dispatch dated
September 4, 1913, picked up by numerous
local newspapers, reported as follows:
“Of all the ‘speed’ dances which have
been noticed by the International Association of Masters of Dancers [now in session in Bridgeport, Connecticut] the
‘tango,’ the ‘Hesitation Waltz,’ the ‘Hitchy
Koo,’ and the ‘Peacock Glide’ are all right
if danced with decorum. . . P.H. Kelly, secretary of the association, declared that the
‘Turkey Trot,’ the ‘Horse Trot’ and the
‘Grizzly Bear’ were vulgar.
‘We will never recognize them,’ he
said. ‘The dancing is from the hips up, instead of from the hips down’ as is proper.
‘It is not so much what the Turkey Trotters
do with their feet. That does not count. It’s
the position which tends to vulgarity.’
“The association during its session
will unify the steps of the approved dances
in order to teach them correctly.”
Dancers, let this be fair warning!
B
By Jack Rummel
Sami CD 1010
Danza / Three Sisters / Pierette / A Ragtime Oddity / Valse Miroir / Solace / Clair de
Lune.
eith Taylor has been a part of the ragtime scene for decades, yet his recordings have been sporadic until the
twenty-first
century began when
they started to appear with some
regularity.
His
latest may contain a slender list
of titles but these
seven pieces add
up to almost 45
minutes of stellar
pianistics.
How
he rationalizes including these disparate
styles
under the umbrella of “ragtime” remains a
bit of a mystery, but that’s unimportant.
The varied music is beautiful and speaks
for itself.
Taylor opens with Danza by L.M. Gottschalk, its tango rhythms charged with emotion. This leads to Three Sisters by Gil
Lieby, the only true rag and a light-hearted
one at that. Pierette by Hal Isbitz is ragbased and lush, its meter teasing toward
Latin on occasion, whereas A Ragtime
Oddity by Lieby retains a solid 5/4 beat
K
throughout, which can mess with your
mind if you let it.
Valse Miroir by the French-Canadian
composer Jean-Baptiste Lafrenière begins
with an added introduction that piles filigree upon filigree, but once Taylor begins
the waltz its beauty is brought forth. Scott
Joplin’s Solace, a tango residing in a foursectioned rag structure, is played with
grace and overt affection.
Taylor ends
with Clair de Lune by
Claude Debussy, perhaps the most overplayed classical piano
piece of the twentieth
century, yet its appeal
is enduring and his
performance is delicate and reverent.
The
overall
mood of the album is
that of looking back at a well-lived life;
thus, the pieces are not fast and flashy and
the dynamics seldom exceed a medium
forte. The piano is a good one and the
sound quality is intimate. The liner notes
are philosophical – befitting of a reminiscence – but generally uninformative. Keith
Taylor has been accused of some quirky musical side trips here and there, but this CD
is eminently satisfying, straight-forward
and thoroughly pianistic.
Available for $14.00 plus shipping
from http://cdbaby.com .
By Jack Rummel
Auburn Fruit & Nut Co. (No number)
King Chanticleer / Hindustan / Garden Walk
/ Lulu’s Back in Town* / Sugar Lump /
Moonlight on the Ganges / Memories of You /
Red Pepper / The Rag-Time Dance / Odeon /
Happy Feet / Russian Rag / Do You Know
What It Means to Miss New Orleans? / Tres
Moutarde / Apple Jack / California Here I
Come* / One More Hour / Redneck Rag.
(*Vocal)
T
he Raspberry Jam Band is a group
that got together to have fun with ragtime and, by the sounds of this CD, they
are still reveling in it. The six-member ensemble features the unorthodox combination of flute (and piccolo), violin, piano,
euphonium, tuba and washboard – hardly
your standard line-up, yet it works and the
excitement they feel among themselves is
easily discernable.
Julia Riley’s flute carries the melody
most often and it sings out over the piano
and the doubled low brass of George Preston and Mark Meeker. Tom Brier’s keyboard work is richly chorded and his solos
are always a high point . Kitty Wilson ’s
treble tinkling on the washboard, bells and
blocks seems to add just the right amount
of sparkle. Mary Preston’s violin, however,
seems a bit tentative and frequently
struggles to be heard. Augmenting the jovial ambiance are the sounds of kazoos,
whistles, roosters and more, plus the vocals
of George Preston.
The playlist
spans 90 years
and is evenly balanced
between
rags and pop
tunes.
I
especially
liked
Eubie’s
Memories
of
You, with its mellow euphonium
lead and, in this
case, strong violin solo (why did
they have to double-time it at the end?);
Milton Agar’s Happy Feet, with its clever
washboard antics; and George Cobb’s Russian Rag, with its skilful blend of solos.
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New
Orleans features the mournful voices of
both euphonium and tuba, giving the
normally meets the last Sunday of the month. If you would like to
receive the monthly newsletter, the subscription rate is $16 per year.
The subscription year runs from August 1st to the following July
31st. Subscriptions beginning after August 1st may be pro-rated.
Payments should be made payable to Sacramento Ragtime Society.
Merv Graham, PO Box 2286, Grass Valley CA 95945
(530) 273-0487
mgraham@funkyfiddler.org
listener an opportunity to “feel” the range
and the timbre of each – a nice touch. Special mention should also be made of
Randy Newman’s lovely waltz, One More
Hour, the performance of which could
have gone on a lot longer. By contrast, Brian March’s Redneck Rag, which closes the
disc, is a hoedown free-forall that begs for a 5-string
banjo and some downhome fiddlin’.
The
CD
features
strong, clever artwork and
very descriptive liner notes.
I certainly suspect that
these musicians all have
day jobs and play this music for the love of it. The
Raspberry Jam Band calls
their brand of music “Ragtime with whimsy,” and I
can’t think of a better description. They
must be a hoot to watch, and even if you
haven’t seen them in a live performance,
listening to this CD will still bring a smile
to your face.
Available for $18.00 postpaid
from Julia Riley,
189 Blackberry Court,
Auburn , CA 95603 .
Continued from page 1
Burns, Robyn Drivon, Bev Eggers, Deborah Gale, Marilyn and Byron Hindman,
Hal Krueger, and Virginia Tichenor were
on hand all day to keep things running
smoothly. Virginia also provided some wonderful ragtime music throughout the day.
Our hard working judges were Tom Brier,
Jack Bradshaw, and Petra Sullivan who had
the toughest job of all--making those
choices for the first, second and honorable
mention awards. A nod too to Jack
Bradshaw for his work on the
competition's database. This year the Sacramento Bee sent a reporter. You can view a
short clip of the competition by clicking on
the “piano hands” at: http://videos.sacbee.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=7175195&item_index=1&al
Next year’s competition will be held
on November 6th, 2010, at Trinity Cathedral. We hope to see you there.
The 2009 competition finalists are:
Division 1 (ages 8-10)
First Ashley Kim
Missouri Rag (Martha Mier)
Second Melody Mei
Garden City Rag (Judy East Wells)
Honorable Mention Lilian Chen
Ragamuffin (Eugenie Rocherolle)
Honorable Mention Sean Mignosa
Dandelion Rag (Martha Mier)
Honorable Mention Sana Shrikant
Peppermint Rag (Martha Mier)
Honorable Mention Adeline Zhou
Persnickety Rag (Martha Mier)
Division 2A- Junior (ages 11-14)
First Augustine Nguyen
Tuxedo Jazz (Martha Mier)
First Namkha Nguyen
Steamboat Rag (Martha
Mier)
Second Victor Chen
Maple Leaf Rag (Scott Joplin/arr. A. Small)
Honorable Mention Mihir Sharma
Banjo Twang
(Charles Drumheller, arr. J. Schaum)
Honorable Mention Avinash Thangali
Triple-T Rag (Melody Bober)
Division 2B - Classic (ages 11-14)
First Jamison Sloan
Graceful Ghost (William Bolcom)
Second Alexander Fang
A Breeze from Alabama (Scott Joplin)
Second Ella Pearson
Weeping Willow (Scott Joplin)
Honorable Mention Katrina Hill
Eli Green’s Cakewalk (Sadie Koninsky)
Honorable Mention Shayon Konjkav
Smokey Mokes (Abraham Holzmann)
Honorable Mention Shivani Sharma
Chevy Chase (Eubie Blake)
Division 3 (ages 15-18)
First Linda Zhang
Peacherine Rag (Scott Joplin)
Second William Perkins
Texas Foxtrot (David Guion)
Honorable Mention Vincent Johnson
Sunshine From My Fingers (Zez Confrey)
Honorable Mention Wendy Sun
Weeping Willow (Scott Joplin)
Nov
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
24
1
8
15
22
29
Frederick Hodges
Marty Eggers
Virginia Tichenor
Crown Syncopators
Marty Eggers
Frederick Hodges
For more information call 415-362-5125
Nov 25 Frederick Hodges
Dec 2 Benny Marcello, piano; Jim Lucas, Bass; Jack Scott,
drums; Geri Eckert, vocals.
Dec 9 Pat Blucher and her Jazzin' Gents
Dec 16 Ken Meyers, piano; Eddi Benjamini, bass;
Terry Carlisle, drums; Clint Ritchie, drums
Dec 23 Jim Maihack, piano and everything else except a flute;
"Sugar" Willie, piano and
bass horn; Bill Dendle, piano, banjo, trumpet
and drums. I have no idea what will happen.
Dec 30 Dr. Bach's Jazz Practitioners with Tom Brier on piano
For more information call 916-987-7434 or e-mail Bs25ss28@aol.com
Sacramento Ragtime Society events are starred (*) and up to date information can always be obtained from the society's web site at
www.SacramentoRagtime.com.
Please let us know as soon as possible about upcoming ragtime or ragtime related events so we may list them.
29
AFCDJS 30th Annual Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival, Town & County Resort & Hotel, San Diego, CA
More info at: www.dixielandjazzfestival.org
No Sacramento Ragtime Society session this month.
27
Sacramento Ragtime Society, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, 1:00–4:00 P.M. 916-457-3324
8-10
11th Annual Ragtime festival Eau Claire, WI Featuring Anne and Jeff Barnhart and Carl Sonny Leyland, it also
features dozens of national and regional Ragtime performers like Steve Strandiford, Dave Tucker, Jim Radlof, John Partridge, Faye
Ballard, Bill Edwards, John Remmers, Adam Swanson, Morgan Siever, Wesley Reznicek, Larissa Migaychov, Monte Suffern, Bill
Brown, Galen Parker, Ruby Thomas, Sandy Williams, Dave Majchrzak .More info, and a brochure to register is at the website:
www.ecragtime.org
15-25
Tex Wyndham, JazzSea Cruises, Cruise to the Caribbean, contact: Carol Neumann 800-323-3881 or www.jazzsea.com
31
Sacramento Ragtime Society, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, 1:00–4:00 P.M. 916-457-3324
24-29
Sunday
Sunday
1st Sunday
1st Sunday
1st Sunday
Brad Kay, The Unurban, 3301 West Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 2:00–4:00 P.M.
Devine's Jug Band, On the Corner Cafe, Divisadero & Oak, San Francisco, 2:00–4:00 P.M.
Friends of Scott Joplin—Ragtime Rendezvous, The Pub Above at Dressel's, 419 N Euclid St. St Louis, MO, 5:30–8:30 P.M.
Portland Ragtime Society, It's a Beautiful Pizza, 3342 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR, 2:00–6:00 P.M.
Classic Ragtime Society of Indiana, Even-numbered months (e.g. February, April, etc.) only. For more info contact
Josi Beeler 317-359-6452, josibee@sbcglobal.net or Irene Weinberg 317-578-7883, turtleindy@aol.com.
1st & 3rd Sunday—Sacramento Banjo Band, Straw Hat Pizza, 2929 Mather Field Rd, Rancho Cordova, 2:00–4:00 P.M.
2nd Sunday Mont Alto Ragtime & Tango Orchestra–Tea Dance, Temple Events Center Uptown, 16th & Pearl, Denver, CO,
Lessons 1:30–2:00 P.M. Dancing 2:00–5:00 P.M. Call 303-655-9413 or 303-449-5962 for more information.
Last Sunday Rose Leaf Ragtime Club, Aztec Hotel, 311 W. Foohill Blvd., Monrovia, 2:00–5:00 P.M.
Participating musicians free, $2 donation for others, 626-358-3231 or 818-766-2384
Tuesday
Ragtime and Vintage Piano Music, Pier 23, San Francisco (See separate listing)
Tuesday
East Bay Banjo Band, Round Table Pizza, 1938 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 7:30–8:30 P.M. 925-372-0553
Tuesday
Victorian Dances, Lake Merritt Dance Center Lounge – Oakland Veterans Bldg. 200 Grand Ave, Oakland, 7:00 P.M.
Beginning & Intermediate classes and dance. $8, For more info: 530-759-9278 or www.vintagewaltz.com
Tuesday
Piano Ragtime Cutting Contest, Frederick's Music Lounge, 4454 Chippewa, St. Louis, MO, 7:00–9:00 P.M.
Contestants appear on the Ragtime St. Louis TV show. For more information 314-968-2635 or ragtimefest@aol.com
Wednesday
Ragtime & Vintage Music, Straw Hat Pizza, Rancho Cordova, (See separate listing)
Wednesday
Craig Ventresco & Meredith Axelrod, Cafe Divine, 1600 Stockton St. (across from Washington Square) San Francisco,
7:30–9:30 P.M. 415-986-3414
Wednesday
Peninsula Banjo Band, Cabritos Mexican Bistro, 1685 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, 7:00 p.m., Info: 408-993-2263
Wednesday
Happy Time Banjos, Soprano's Pizza, 373 Main St., Redwood City, 7:00 P.M., Info: 408-253-3676
2nd Wednesday—Marty Eggers & Virginia Tichenor, Hot Ragtime & Classic Jazz Piano, The Belrose Theater, 1415 5th Ave. San Rafael
5:30–8:00 P.M. 415-454-6422 or 510-655-6728, Wine bar, beer & light food available. No cover charge.
Thursday
Oakland Banjo Band, Porky's Pizza Palace, 1221 Manor Blvd. (corner of Farnsworth) San Leandro, 7:30–9:30 P.M. 510-357-4323
c/o Merv Graham
PO Box 2286
Grass Valley CA 95945
Page 8
Friday
Friday
Friday
Jerry Rothschild, Curley's Restaurant, corner Willow & Cherry, Signal Hill (So. Cal), 7:00–10:00 P.M. 562-424-0018
Keith Taylor, Mad Matilda's, 1917 Main St, Baker City, Oregon. For information call 541-519-4072
Friday Night Waltz, 1st United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton St. (& Cowper), Palo Alto, Lessons: 7:00–9:00 P.M.,
Dancing 9:00 P.M. to Midnight. 650-326-6265, Check web site to confirm time and location, www.fridaynightwaltz.com
2nd Friday
Chico's Ragtime/Tin Pan Alley Sessions, The Terraces, 2750 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Chico, 6:30–8:30 P.M.
Contact: Bernie or Bob LoFaso 530-894-6854, b_lofaso@hotmail.com
4th Friday
Vintage Dance & Waltz Lessons, Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut, Berkeley, $6 for dance; $8 lesson & dance
8:00 P.M. Lesson; 9:00 P.M. to midnight, Dance. For more info: 530-759-9278 or www.vintagewaltz.com
1st Saturday Bitterroot Valley Ragtime Society, Hamilton Public House, Victor, Montana, 4:00–6:00 P.M.
For more info call 406-961-3245 or visit www.bitterroot-ragtime.com
1st Saturday San Francisco Starlight Orchestra, [Feb, May, Aug & Nov only] Strawberry Recreation Center, 118 East Strawberry Drive,
Mill Valley, $20. 7:00–8:00 P.M. Complimentary Dance Lessons with Cynthia Glinka, 8:00–11:00 P.M.
General dancing; Soft drinks and desserts available or BYO spread.
Contacts: 707-973-6107, 415-485-5500 (Cynthia Glinka) or 415-285-8409 (Lucia & Duke Edwards).
1st Saturday San Francisco Banjo Band, Molloy's, 1655 Mission Road, Colma, 7:30 P.M. Info: 650-692-7878
2nd Saturday Valley Ragtime Stomp. Vitello's Restaurant 4349 Tujunga Ave. Studio City, CA , 1:00–4:00 P.M.
Info, videos, and sign-up for e-newsletter via: http://www.valleyragtimestomp.blogspot.com
3rd Saturday Mother Lode Ragtime Society, Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium, 51 Main St. (Hwy 49), Sutter Creek CA,
7:30–9:30 P.M. [Odd numbered months only] For more information call 209-267-0543 or sodajerk@volcano.net
3rd Saturday Cascade Ragtime Society–Ragtime Jam, Noah's Ark, Winston, Oregon [Even numbered months only] 541-784-1261
Mondays
Sundays
Thursdays
Continuous
The Ragtime Machine, KUSF, 90.3 FM, San Francisco. 9:00 10:00 P.M. Host: David Reffkin, www.kusf.org
Syncopation Station, KDHX 88.1 FM, St. Louis, Missouri, 4:00 5:30 P.M. Host: Vann Ford, www.kdhx.org
Ragtime America, KGNU, 88.5 FM, Boulder, Colorado, 8:00 9:00 P.M. Host: Jack Rummel. www.kgnu.org
Rocky Mountain Ragtime, Ragtime 24 hours a day, www.live365.com/stations/rmragtime