Monterey Bay Ragtime Festival
By John Roach, forwarded by Terry Smythe
Forwarded Message:
From: johnroache@aol.com To: ALL Orig: MBNET
Subj: Monterey Bay Ragtime Fest Area: 1-ec.music.ragtime Date: 10/04/95
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I attended the festival last weekend and would like to share my experience with you.
This was the third annual festival produced by Bay Concert Arts. Because of substantial financial losses last year, the 1995 event almost didn't get off the drawing board. They decided to go ahead when they received substantial inquiries from previous patrons. I have no prior festival experience to base my observations on but I must say my wife and I had a very pleasant time.
I estimate attendance was less than 100, so I cannot say if the event was a financial success. Bay Concert Arts can't be faulted for trying, though. The event was adequately organized and all events came off as scheduled. Being a small event, the "up close and personal" feel of the performances is an experience not to be missed. If at all possible, you should try to attend next year.
The festival events were held in four venues: Headquarters at a large vacant storefront in a shopping center served up continuous music on a Steinway grand, a Yamaha, and a classic 100 year-old upright from 10AM to Midnight on Friday and Saturday and 10AM- 2PM on Sunday. Nearby, the All-Saints Church offered it's marvelous acoustics to 9 hours of performances on Friday and Saturday. The Watsonville Senior Center provided an adequate dancing and listening venue for over 10 hours of music on Saturday. The Crosetti Ranch in the scenic Monterey foothills was the site of the Sunday BAR-B-QUE and final sets.
The soloists and ensembles were first-rate and as a bonus, we were treated to some really unusual performances:
Patrice Young is a ragtime cellist who teamed up with pianist William Kenville to perform some really nice classic ragtime.
The most unique presentation was a Ragtime Ballet pas de deux performed by dancers John Mello and Vickie Meyer to the Joplin tunes "Bethena" and "Solace" performed by Kenville & Young.
More traditional ensemble music was presented by The Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra who kept the dancers on their feet for 3 hours at the Senior Center.
The Rocky Mountain Ragtime Quartet from Montana served up some great music with Karla West, Rod Biensen, Jasper Kleinjan, and Rory Thomas on piano, tuba, washboard, and banjo. Rod Biensen also presented some solo piano sets.
A special treat for me was the chance to hear the great San Francisco trad jazz legends Pete Clute and Carl Lunsford fire off some really great stride tunes on piano an banjo.
The piano soloists were first class. Frank French and Scott Kirby were fantastic, as always. Patrick Gogherty was impressive with his light and sensitive style which was every effective in his Joseph Lamb renditions. The young, rising star Tom Brier blew me away with his technical mastery and huge repertoire of obscure rags. I don't think I heard him play the same piece twice the whole weekend! Also turning in respectable performances were William Kenville and Tom Constanten.
The highlight of the festival was the two-piano duets of Frank French and Scott Kirby. Playing contemporary and classic pieces, their driving styles are so synergistic that the whole of the performance is far greater than the sum of the parts. They had the audience on their feet demanding encores every time they sat down together. Which, fortunately for us, was several times during the weekend. The after-hours Saturday night jam was a real treat. French and Kirby joined in with the Rocky Mountain Quartet for some wonderful Scott and Joplin classic renditions. Then Pat Gogherty took over for the RMQ and French and Kirby immediately modified their playing to be compatible with Gogherty's light style and turned in 3 fine renderings of Joplin and Lamb.
Kirby and French announced they have recently cut a new Piano duet CD which will be released in a few weeks. DON'T MISS IT! They will also be presenting a duet concert at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, CA on November 12. El Segundo is only 5 miles from home. I'll be there for sure.
John Roach |
(Message sent Fri 6 Oct 1995, 04:19:36 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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