By special permission of Art Reblitz and John Motto-Ros I have been
asked to make an important announcement.  In conjunction with the 50th
Anniversary of AMICA and its forthcoming convention to be held in the
city of San Francisco, California, the week of July 11-14, 2013, a new,
novel and unique G-Roll has been commissioned that has been arranged
by none other than Art Reblitz, himself, to commemorate not only the
convention but the area for which The City is famous: San Francisco's
storied -- and notorious -- "Barbary Coast."

From the cribs, the dives, the "cow yards", the saloons, dance-halls
and parlour houses, Art was asked to draw upon his vast storehouse of
musical knowledge to produce a limited-edition G-roll unlike no other
-- a roll that would include music composed, published, played and
drawn from life from the Barbary Coast Era.

These tunes were chosen expressly for their torrid nature.  All ten
tunes on this roll -- aptly named G-0026, "Echoes Of The Barbary
Coast" -- are arranged in such a fashion as to call upon the spirit
of "The Coast" at that time.

Imagine entering a "high-class" house such as that belonging to the
real-life Madame Bertha, armed with ready money to be "entertained" by
any number of "pretty waiter girls" who would coax you into depositing
any number of quarters into the Seeburg G (located conveniently in
close proximity to the grand staircase that led to innumerable
pleasures awaiting).

But first, a fast dance to "The Grizzly Bear Rag", "The Frisco Rag",
"On San Francisco Bay" or perhaps "The Texas Tommy Swing"?  Close
contact was indeed encouraged and what better way to get acquainted
than a tight dance to "The Bunny Hug Rag"?

Captured in this music are the teasing and pleasing tempos that
aficionados of these early numbers crave.  They start off deceptively,
with a light air, but as they progress these Reblitz arrangements get
very down and very dirty, with the tympani and drum sections getting
a real workout while the bass section goes into overdrive (those with
G-roll machines utilizing octave-couplers take note!).

The essence of the Barbary Coast continues to be captured with a
special arrangement, true to the times, of "Cripes!" by well-known
ragtime pianist and composer, Tom Brier.  "Black Bottom Stomp" is
included because its author, Jelly Roll Morton, did frequent (and play)
in San Francisco at one time or another.  Special attention must be
paid to "King Chanticleer", a Reblitz G-roll variation of a John
Farrell favorite that must be heard to be believed.

And, if you were well-heeled and "slumming" in the area (and lucky
enough not to be drugged and "Shanghaied") you might find yourself
in The City's Midway Plaissance Music Hall, the first melodeon to
feature what Variety called "torso-twisters and hip-wavers".  There
you might encounter Coochee-Dancer Supreme, the original "Little Egypt".

Female acts at the Midway Plaissance were bawdier in every way, and
a visitor who engaged a booth for the evening was entertained between
the acts by the female performers, and his conduct was not questioned
as long as he continued to buy liquor" (ref. Herbert Asbury: "The
Barbary Coast").

"Sphinx Rag" as rendered on your orchestrion will give you a true
indication of the fast times and women that made The Barbary Coast
the most notorious of all "the districts" in the country, until its
shut-down (by law) in 1917!

As mentioned earlier, this special roll is a limited edition.  Plus,
it is to be signed and numbered by Art Reblitz ("Not Genuine Without
His Signature") especially for the AMICA Convention -- with Art's own
signature imprinted upon each roll leader.  After the production run
is completed and all are sold, there will be no more rolls issued.

The roll, available exclusively from John Motto-Ros (of "Johnny's Music
Rolls") has been perforated to perfection by Bob Billings, and sports
a special label featuring the famous (or infamous) nymph-and-satyr
sculptures by renowned San Francisco artist Arthur Putnam that once
adorned the ill-famed "Hippodrome" dance hall (and are the only
surviving artifacts of the Barbary Coast's ancient glories).

You are encouraged to visit "Johnny's Music Rolls" today for an
exclusive MIDI-file "sneak preview" of this hot new roll, G-0026,
"Echoes Of The Barbary Coast":

http://www.johnnysmusicrolls.com/goodies/php/rollslistuserview.php?rolltype=g 

Thanks,
Mark Forer