Ragtime Festivals
By Mary Haley, forwarded by Steven Standiford
haley@niwot.scd.ucar.edu (Mary Haley) wrote:
>
>
> This group has kind of been quiet. I'd like to hear from folks out
> there that have been going to ragtime festivals. Did anybody in
> addition to Mark Lutton and Ed Berlin go to the Sedalia festival? If
> so, what did you like most about it? Any exciting new performers we
> should know about?
>
> Also, I read in the Scott Joplin Festival program that John Arpin
> was unable to make it due to health problems. Does anybody know how
> he's doing now?
>
> I believe Ron O'Dell said that John Gill was playing some gigs in
> California. Has anybody heard any of them yet?
>
> I want details!
>
> I'm getting kind of drooly because both Frank French and Scott Kirby
> are playing at a hotel in town tonight. Hopefully Scott will also
> start playing on the Pearl Street Mall (in Boulder).
>
> Thanks for any info,
>
> Mary
> haley@ncar.ucar.edu
The Sedalia festival was as great as ever, and folks should know that it is turning out to be the springboard for other ragtime events in the Missouri area. Although the festival started officially on Thursday, our week started on Tuesday in Versailles, Missouri, with "Mimi and friends." This is the fifth year Mimi has done this show - the first year was her alone, and she tells a delightful story of playing on an old upright, and apparently wowed them enough in Versailles that she has been coming back ever since, just before the Joplin festival. In 1992, she added Mike Schwimmer (the washboardist from the Elite Syncopators) as her guest. 1993, she had Mike Schwimmer and Bob Milne join her. In 1994, Mimi, Mike, and Bob were joined by Scott Kirby. This year, Mimi, Mike, Bob, and Scott were joined by Daulton Ridenhour, a 13 year old from St. James, Missouri who some of you may have heard in Sedalia over the past few years. This kid is continually getting better - and always is willing to play some tough stuff. He does a great job with Eubie Blake. Anyway, after this as a warm-up, the Joplin festival was outstanding. Morton Gunnar Larson brought his Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra from Norway - amazing group. They played for the Ragtime Dance on Thursday, and the evening concert on Saturday, with wonderful performances of Larson's arrangements. There were a few newcomers, as others have posted, including Philip Dyson doing the works of Billy Mayerl. The usual headliners were as great we've come to expect, especially Scott Kirby's "Baltimore Todolo" rendition at the first evening show. Tony Caramia put on a wonderful display of Zez Confrey novelties, and has a great recording of novelties called "Hot Ivories" that you should keep an eye out for. As the Joplin festival wound down, we had one more chance as Morton Gunnar Larson and the Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra moved sixty miles down the road along with Scott Kirby to Columbia, MO for the annual Monday after Sedalia concert put on by Lucille Salerno. This is the fifth year for this even as well. Another amazing night, including Scott and Morton doing some double piano numbers (how did they keep the moving bass octaves in the beginning of "Charleston Rag" together?). In Mid-Missouri, we certainly had our fill of ragging after that week (but always want more). I understand that Dick Zimmerman had a Tuesday before Sedalia show outside of Kansas City - don't know who was performing there.
Basically, the point of this long-worded post is to tell anyone heading for Sedalia to check on some of these pre- and post- festival concerts. I'll try to get word out about the Columbia show for next year as soon as we know what will be up.
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(Message sent Sat 24 Jun 1995, 13:36:47 GMT, from time zone GMT.) |
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