SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
n the afternoon of Friday, May 28, I from the cottonwoods along the river drif- Ocontentedly listened to the Crown ted oblivious to the music. Chris and Jack Syncopators start their one-hour set in the Bradshaw and Robyn and Steve Drivon Golden State room of the Hyatt Hotel. As provided just the right balance of grace and the familiar two-four stains of James Scott’s beauty for the nearby diners and their Ragtime Oriole began, an unexpected feel- gently clanking silverware. ing of panic washed over me. This was only But mostly, the time evaporated in the the beginning of three-days of wall-to-wall cool atmosphere of the Hyatt. Cleve Baker ragtime music, how on earth was I going to and Rosemary “Rosie” Hallum gave a mu- be able to sit still and enjoy it for three sically-illustrated show about Peter Clute whole days? that showcased the compositions of this But before I knew it, it was Sunday successor to Wally Rose. The Saloon night and the Syncopators were polishing Sweeties (Tom Brier, Julia Riley and Kitty the last chords of Ben Harney’s Cakewalk Wilson) continued the nostalgic mood in the Sky. The three days were merely a with That Sentimental Rag by Mabel Tilton, memory. Where had the time gone? but things decidedly turned rambunctious with Bebe, a 1923 Foxtrot by Abner Silver. The hours had flown by. Some were spent in the warm air of the Courtyard And so it went. Ragtime rambunc- D’Oro where the Ragnolia Ragtette played tious and sentimental, rhythmic and tune- In This Issue for two hours every morning in the dappled sunlight while little balls of fluff See continued on page 2
by Chris Bradshaw when he was only ten years old. Will Per- ounger and younger kids are catching kins, Vincent Johnson, Tim Rotolo and Y the ragtime fever and some are stay- Sergey Smirnov to name a few, have been ing with it. Over the past five and-a-half continued on page 2 years, since the West Coast Rag- time Society sponsored its first Youth Competi- tion, we have been seeing some of our former parti- cipants who come back year after year, getting to be stronger and stronger players. We have one stu- dent, Shayon Kon- jkav, who has been with us from the very first year SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY
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ful, serious and playful, performed at a con- sistently high level by various soloists and groups. Highlights included Virginia Tichenor and Tom Brier’s duet set includ- ome one come all to the 12th Annual Movies accompanied by Frederick Hodges ing a nuanced, dynamically subtle (rare in Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, to be and Keith Taylor, two huge festival shows C these two-piano smack-downs) version of held August 13-15, 2010. The Early Bird spotlighting the festival performers, a Sat- William Krell’s Mississippi Rag, Larisa Mig- All Events Badges are on sale for $60 be- urday Youth Concert, and even a down- achyov’s sensitive playing of Perryville by fore July 15th and $70 after. Youth 16 and home hymn fling on Sunday morning with Tom Brier, Porcupine Ragtime En- under attend free with a paying adult. ($20 the lively Squeek Steele. semble’s nightly concerts at 8:00 o’clock, service charge for refunds requested prior Invited performers include Patrick Helen Burns’ spirited singing with the Pa- to 7/15; no refunds after 7/15.) Day Aranda, the Bradshaws, Tom Brier, Crown cific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, and Tim badges and individual concert tickets will Syncopators, Marty Eggers, the HeeBee Jee- Rotolo’s “sexy” version of Stormy Weather. also be available. Badge order forms may Bees, Frederick Hodges, Vince Johnson, On Saturday at 3:00, a Youth Concert be found at http://www.suttercreekrag- Carl “Sonny” Leyland, Will Perkins, was organized by Chris Bradshaw featuring time. com. For more information call: Stevens Price, the Ragnolia Ragtette, the the promising talent of the future. These (209) 405-1563 or e-mail: motherloderag- Raspberry Jam Band, Squeek Steel, Keith talented youngsters demonstrate that talk [email protected]. Taylor, Virginia Tichenor, the Ragtime Ske- denigrating the youth of today is just cynic- Expect a grand time as you enjoy the daddlers and other ragtime favorites. Be al grumbling by crusty curmudgeons. Kids many sparkling sets by professional ragtime there or be square! today are better, smarter and more ambi- players and groups, an evening of Silent tious than ever! So once again another Ragtime Corner rushed merrily by. Kudos to all Continued from page 1 who participated. The quality of playing was better than ever and rarely flagged. with us from 2-4 years and are performing Thanks to Petra Sullivan and all the volun- ragtime in various festivals. Many of the teers for making a sparkling, three-day kids who started with us are now past the event that passed with the beauty of Echo of age limit of the competition but their Spring and the speed of The Lion Tamer. by Merv Graham names still pop up. Jared DiBartolomeo n order to provide the SRS membership who lives down south performs every year roster, to those who desire a copy, in a I at the Fullerton RagFest. more timely manner, we have opted to Mier. Next were Alex Fang and Katrina provide them via e-mail. Printing and mail- We are fortunate to have two oppor- Hill playing classic rags. Two brothers, Elli- ing paper copies of the roster tends to be a tunities for presenting youth performers in ot and Isaac Lee, performed works from time consuming and expensive process, concerts—The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee and the contemporary composer Robin Frost. and, as such, doesn't happen often The Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival. Appear- Sergey Smirnov, the last to play, performed enough. However, it's quick and easy to let ing at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in the George Gershwin’s Prelude III, an example the computer generate a PDF format file Ragtime Corners and featured in their of where ragtime and classical music meet. and e-mail it to those who wish to have a own sets were Tim Rotolo and Sergey He ended with a Debussy number that copy. We will probably be sending out Smirnov, two wonderful finds from the showed the influence of ragtime all the way new copies every six months or so, and the WCRS youth competitions. Will Perkins, to France. You often hear of Europe influ- first e-mail edition will be sent within a who wanted to participate, was back in Pe- encing American music, but this time, the couple of months. oria, Illinois, competing for the first time culture went in the other direction. These in the World Championship Old-Time Pi- students, ranging in age from 9 to 17, If you wish to be on the roster mailing ano Playing Contest where he took a 4th played their hearts out. If you are looking list, just send an e-mail to subscribe@sacra- place. How proud we are of Will. for another “ragtime playing kid-fix,” join mentoragtime.com with the word “Roster" us in Sutter Creek on Saturday, August in the subject field and we will happily add Performers on the recent, May 23rd, 24th, in The American Exchange Hotel at you to the mailing list. If your e-mail ad- concert at the Hyatt Ragtime Corner were noon, where many of these kids, joined by dress doesn't clearly display your name, Ashley Kim, Madeline Hansen, and others, will be presenting another youth please add it the body of the message. Namkha Nguyen, all performing the spir- ited teaching rags composed by Martha concert. SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY
by Yorkman Lowe But the major impetus came in July ditors note: In the February issue we asked 1986, when I saw a notice in the San Fran- Ethe question "How did you become a rag- cisco Chronicle of a Victorian Days festival time fan?". Here is Yorkman Lowe's response at Central Park in San Mateo. There I by Merv Graham and your response is still eagerly awaited. heard the Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, uly is the Parade of Bands month at the LIVE, together with fans in ragtime-era at- Actually, it was likely my first visit to Jregular, second Sunday of the month, ses- tire and a complete cultural milieu of the Disneyland's Main Street at age 5 (1956) sion of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz So- age, and got a few of their cassette tapes. that made me a devotee of the culture of ciety. This July, as in the past, the parade the ragtime era. Then, of course, there In the summer of 1999 I found one of will feature our own Porcupine Ragtime En- were the cartoons from the 30s and 40s the tapes, so I called for information on semble with, hopefully, a surprise special that aired on TV in the 50s, which their other recordings, and was told about guest. rendered a nostalgic view of the ragtime the West Coast Ragtime festival. So, the Festivities will begin at noon, the 11th era, not to mention such movies as Yankee first festival I attended was in November of July, on the main stage of the Dante Doodle Dandy, Pollyanna and Toby Tyler, 1999 when I was struck by not only the mu- Club, 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd, in Sacramento. and stories about life 'when grandfather sic, but the wonderfully beautiful dancing was a boy'. As for ragtime music itself, the and the dancers' elegant Edwardian attire. movie The Sting (1974) certainly helped. Also I found a 'Tango Collection' catalog And, I do recall a concert by the Chrysan- which listed the film The Tango Lesson, themum Ragtime Band in Cupertino that I'd seen and wanted to buy. A true about 1982. miracle! Press Release hico Ragtime / Tin Pan Alley Open Continued from page 6 tion about the pieces themselves, especially CMic is proud to present Keith Taylor How these three musicians found each the original string band arrangements, but in a Music By The Lake Concert on August other in an area the size of San Francisco is that is a small complaint. 6th at 6:30 PM. This concert, A Journey anybody’s guess, but the blend of instru- This isn’t just music for mandolin play- Through Ragtime is open to the public for ments and talent seems truly ideal. It is im- ers or string band lovers. This is ragtime no charge at The Terraces, 2750 Sierra Sun- mediately obvious that they not only love for ragtime lovers and the Rag Time Ske- rise Terrace, Chico. The nearest cross the music but they also care about playing daddlers are the real deal. Recommended. street is Bruce Road. it right. The recording levels are perfect, Available for $15.00 plus shipping from ht- For information contact Bernie the tempos are always appropriate, the sec- tp://www.cdbaby.com/cd/RagTimeSkedad- LoFaso at 530-894-6854 or b_lofaso@hot- tional repeats are observed and the overall dlers . Or it can be downloaded there mail.com or RagtimeandTinPanAl- package is appealing. As a die-hard histori- (mp3) for $9.99. Individual tracks can also [email protected] an, I would have appreciated more informa- be downloaded for 99¢ each.
normally meets the last Sunday of the month. If you would like to any of you may remember the excel- receive the monthly newsletter, the subscription rate is $16 per year. Mlent piano playing of Richard Dowl- ing at the 2009 West Coast Ragtime The subscription year runs from August 1st to the following July Festival. Here is some news that may be of 31st. Subscriptions beginning after August 1st may be pro-rated. interest to the more serious pianists in our audience and/or their friends. Richard Payments should be made payable to Sacramento Ragtime Society. has announced the opening of his new store in New York City and of their new web site which begs a "look see" to find sheet music and other musical items for sale there. www.dowlingmusic.com Merv Graham, PO Box 2286, Grass Valley CA 95945 530-273-0487 or [email protected] SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY
Bollywood and Beyond SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY
By Jack Rummel when Dennis Pash founded the Etcetera son’s mandolin provides occasional lead Ma Ragtime Baby / Whistling Rufus / String Band, such groups in America could and lots of tasteful harmony to Pash’s Bowery Buck / Doc Brown’s Cakewalk / probably be counted on one hand. The banjo-mandolin (banjolin?) melodies, while Maple Leaf Rag / Impecunious Davis / A band held sway in the Kansas City area for fellow Bay Area musician Dave Krinkel Tally Ho Party /Creole Belles / The Enter- more than 20 years until it drifted apart adds the critical rhythm anchor and bass tainer / Peaches and Cream / Dixie Blos- and its founder migrated to San Francisco . melody lines on his guitar. soms / Tobasco / That Poker Rag / Dixie Johnson has a quartet of tunes on this Twilight / Temptation Pash didn’t lay CD (Doc Brown’s Cakewalk, A Tally Ho Rag. low for long, thank Party, Dixie Twilight and the lovely waltz, andolin orchestras goodness, and the Tobasco). Contributing two rags each are Mand string band en- ghosts of Charlie Kerry Mills (Whistling Rufus, Impecunious sembles were all the rage Johnson and other Davis), Percy Wenrich (Peaches and in 1901 when Scott Midwestern com- Cream, Dixie Blossoms) and Joplin (Maple Joplin dedicated his rag, posers can again be Leaf Rag, The Entertainer). Other familiar The Entertainer, to heard emanating composers are also represented, including “James Brown and his from the strings of Henry Lodge, J. Bodewald Lampe, Char- Mandolin Club.” Pash’s new group, the lotte Blake and Fred Stone. However, the craze was Rag Time Skedad- short-lived and by 1973 dlers. Nick Robin- See Continued on page 3
Jun 22 Marty Eggers Jun 23 Frederick Hodges Jun 29 Frederick Hodges Jun 30 Dr. Bach with Tom Brier Jul 6 Virginia Tichenor Jul 7 Bob Hirsch Trio Jul 13 Marty Eggers Jul 14 “Sugar” Willie, Bob Ringwald and Jim Maihack Jul 20 Ray Skjelbred Jul 21 Ray Skjelbred Jul 27 Frederick Hodges Jul 28 Norm Gary Trio Aug 3 Virginia Tichenor Aug 4 Jay Paulus Society Band Aug 10 Crown Syncopators Aug 11 Burt Wilson and Kitty Wilson Aug 17 Marty Eggers Aug 18 Frederick Hodges Aug 24 Frederick Hodges Aug 25 Dr. Bach Aug 31 Virginia Tichenor For more information call 916-987-7434 or e-mail [email protected] For more information call 415-362-5125
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. SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY
19 Jack & Chris Bradshaw, at the Villages, San Jose. 2:30 P.M. Tickets $10. Reservations required. Contact: 408-842-4990 19 & 20 Terry Waldo rags & jazzes up Reutlinger's Victorian Parlor in San Francisco. $25 prepaid reservations required. 2:00 P.M. For invites/reservations: Richard Reutlinger 415-346-8669 or Nan Bostick
4 All-American Ragtime Blast to benefit the U.S.O. First Baptist Church of Menlo Park, 1100 Middle (at Arbor) in Menlo Park. Featured performers: Nick Robinson and Dennis Pash of the Ragtime Skedaddlers, percusisonist Pete Devine, pianist Nan Bostick, and other special guests. Donations gratefully accepted. 3:00–4:30 P.M. BBQ follows at 5:00 ($5). Info: Carol at 650-323-8544 or [email protected]. Map at: www.firstbaptist.com 11 The Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble, The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society's Parade of Bands, The Dante Club 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, noon, Info: 916-457-3324, See story, page 3 17 Cline Wine & Jazz Festival, Cline Cellars, 24737 Hwy 121, Sonoma, CA , 11:00 A.M.–6:00 P.M. Performers: The Crown Syncopators, and Marty Eggers and Virginia Tichenor performing in various bands. Info: 707-940-4025 or www.jazznut.com/skeds/cline10.htm 25* Sacramento Ragtime Society, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, 1:00–4:00 P.M. 916-457-3324
6 Keith Taylor, Music By The Lake Concert, The Terraces, 2750 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Chico, 6:30 PM. Info: Bernie 530-894-6854 or [email protected] or [email protected]. See story, page 3 13-15 Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, See story, page 2 22 Frank French in Concert, John Urlich home, El Sobrante CA, 2 P.M. $22, Call: 510-223-9587 or e-mail: [email protected] for required reservations and directions. Limited seating at this John Urlich Piano Series event. 28 Classic Ragtime Society of Indiana Festival, Indiana History Center, Performers: Paul Asaro, Terry Parrish, Joan Reynolds & more. Info: Jim Dahlberg 317-774-9472 or [email protected] 29* Sacramento Ragtime Society, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, 1:00–4:00 P.M. 916-457-3324
26* Sacramento Ragtime Society, Red Lion Sacramento Inn, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, 1:00–4:00 P.M. 916-457-3324
Sunday Brad Kay, The Unurban, 3301 West Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 2:00–4:00 P.M. Sunday Devine's Jug Band, On the Corner Cafe, Divisadero & Oak, San Francisco, 2:00–4:00 P.M. 1st Sunday 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. 1st Sunday Portland Ragtime Society, Elevated Coffee, 5261 Northeast M. L. King Blvd, Portland, OR, 3:00-6:00 P.M. 1st Sunday Classic Ragtime Society of Indiana, Even-numbered months (e.g. February, April, etc.) only. For more info contact Josi Beeler 317-359-6452, [email protected] or Irene Weinberg 317-578-7883, [email protected]. 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’s Mayan Restaurant, 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 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 [email protected] 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 East Bay Banjo Band, Round Table Pizza, 1938 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 7:30–8:30 P.M. 925-372-0553 Wednesday Peninsula Banjo Band, La Paloma Negra, 685 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 Friday Jerry Rothschild, Curley's Restaurant, corner Willow & Cherry, Signal Hill (So. Cal), 7:00–10:00 P.M. 562-424-0018 SACRAMENTO RAGTIME SOCIETY c/o Merv Graham PO Box 2286 Grass Valley CA 95945
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Friday Keith Taylor, Mad Matilda's, 1917 Main St, Baker City, Oregon. For information call 541-519-4072 Friday 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, [email protected] 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 Banjo Band, Molloy's, 1655 Mission Road, Colma, 7:30 P.M. Info: 650-692-7878 2nd Saturday San Francisco Starlight Orchestra, Little Switzerland, 19080 Riverside Drive, Sonoma CA, $15. 2:00–5:00 P.M. Info: www.sanfranciscostarlightorchestra.com 2nd Saturday The Valley Ragtime Stomp, Henri's Restaurant, 21601 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA , 1:00–4:00 P.M. Info: Ron Ross at [email protected] 2nd Saturday East Bay Waltz, Veterans bldg, 200 Grand ave (at Harrison), Oakland, 7:00 p.m.–midnight. Info: eastbaywaltz.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 [email protected] 3rd Saturday Cascade Ragtime Society–Ragtime Jam, Noah's Ark, Winston, Oregon [Even numbered months only] 541-784-1261
Mondays The Ragtime Machine, KUSF, 90.3 FM, San Francisco. 9:00—10:00 P.M. Host: David Reffkin, www.kusf.org Sundays Syncopation Station, KDHX 88.1 FM, St. Louis, Missouri, 4:00—5:30 P.M. Host: Vann Ford, www.kdhx.org Thursdays Ragtime America, KGNU, 88.5 FM, Boulder, Colorado, 8:00—9:00 P.M. Host: Jack Rummel. www.kgnu.org Continuous Rocky Mountain Ragtime, Ragtime 24 hours a day, www.live365.com/stations/rmragtime