The performers from the 2019 Festival were Outstanding!
The talent was overwhelming!!
Don't be to sad If you missed the Festival last year, because all the musicians will be back again in 2020 with the best renditions of ragtime, boogie, blues and era music that makes the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival
one of the most loved festivals in the country.
Coming soon, August 14 - 16th, 2020.
The talent was overwhelming!!
Don't be to sad If you missed the Festival last year, because all the musicians will be back again in 2020 with the best renditions of ragtime, boogie, blues and era music that makes the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival
one of the most loved festivals in the country.
Coming soon, August 14 - 16th, 2020.
Performers from 2019 Festival
Frederick Hodges
Hailed by the press as one of the best concert pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, conductors, and collaborative musicians. His artistry, virtuosity and charisma have brought him to the world’s most renowned stages, leaving audiences around the globe captivated.
Classically trained as a concert pianist, Frederick Hodges has established a reputation as a truly versatile artist equally sought after as soloist, singer, guest soloist with the California Pops Orchestra, and dance band pianist with Don Neely’s Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. His extensive repertoire includes all the best ragtime, stride, and novelty piano solo pieces. He has appeared on national television, radio, and in several Hollywood films. He is also a much sought-after silent film accompanist for both live performances and on DVD. He performs regularly at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum.
Frederick has participated in many prestigious festivals including in Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, the WestCoast Ragtime Festival, The Blind Boone Festival in Columbia Missouri, the Templeton Ragtime Festival at Mississippi State University, the El Segundo Ragtime Festival, and the Sedalia Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. His website is: www.frederickhodges.com.
Hailed by the press as one of the best concert pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, conductors, and collaborative musicians. His artistry, virtuosity and charisma have brought him to the world’s most renowned stages, leaving audiences around the globe captivated.
Classically trained as a concert pianist, Frederick Hodges has established a reputation as a truly versatile artist equally sought after as soloist, singer, guest soloist with the California Pops Orchestra, and dance band pianist with Don Neely’s Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. His extensive repertoire includes all the best ragtime, stride, and novelty piano solo pieces. He has appeared on national television, radio, and in several Hollywood films. He is also a much sought-after silent film accompanist for both live performances and on DVD. He performs regularly at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum.
Frederick has participated in many prestigious festivals including in Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, the WestCoast Ragtime Festival, The Blind Boone Festival in Columbia Missouri, the Templeton Ragtime Festival at Mississippi State University, the El Segundo Ragtime Festival, and the Sedalia Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. His website is: www.frederickhodges.com.
Carl Sonny Leyland
Carl Sonny Leyland was born & raised on the South Coast of England, growing up close to the city of Southampton. As a child he was drawn to the American music which he heard on LP records his father would play. It was here that he developed an appreciation for Dixieland jazz, the rock & roll of the 1950s & the country music of Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams. At age 15 Leyland discovered boogie woogie when he heard a school friend working through a written arrangement of a tune called JD's Boogie Woogie (Marvin Wright). Captivated by the sound of the repeating 8 to the bar left hand pattern, Leyland was inspired to go to the piano & begin on a path that would become his life's purpose. Within 3 months he would be performing in public & shortly after would become a member of a respected local group "The Bob Pearce Blues Band."
Initially influenced by boogie woogie greats Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Leyland went on to fully explore the piano blues genre, becoming an authority on early & obscure styles such as those played by Cow Cow Davenport, Little Brother Montgomery, Montana Taylor & Speckled Red to name a few. Leyland has also continued his involvement with the rockabilly scene & plays each year in the backing band at Viva Las Vegas & more recently at the Summer Jamboree in Senegalia, Italy. In this capacity he has worked with such notables as Janis Martin, Ruth Brown, Billy Lee Riley & Carl Mann. (See 'Career History' page for a complete list of artists).
Whether playing solo or with his trio, Leyland's playing displays an infectious spontaneity, providing plenty of surprises for the listener. While he possesses the necessary vocabulary to pay tribute to the greats of old, he refuses to be limit himself to this & prefers to let each performance be an opportunity to say something new.
Carl Sonny Leyland was born & raised on the South Coast of England, growing up close to the city of Southampton. As a child he was drawn to the American music which he heard on LP records his father would play. It was here that he developed an appreciation for Dixieland jazz, the rock & roll of the 1950s & the country music of Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams. At age 15 Leyland discovered boogie woogie when he heard a school friend working through a written arrangement of a tune called JD's Boogie Woogie (Marvin Wright). Captivated by the sound of the repeating 8 to the bar left hand pattern, Leyland was inspired to go to the piano & begin on a path that would become his life's purpose. Within 3 months he would be performing in public & shortly after would become a member of a respected local group "The Bob Pearce Blues Band."
Initially influenced by boogie woogie greats Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Leyland went on to fully explore the piano blues genre, becoming an authority on early & obscure styles such as those played by Cow Cow Davenport, Little Brother Montgomery, Montana Taylor & Speckled Red to name a few. Leyland has also continued his involvement with the rockabilly scene & plays each year in the backing band at Viva Las Vegas & more recently at the Summer Jamboree in Senegalia, Italy. In this capacity he has worked with such notables as Janis Martin, Ruth Brown, Billy Lee Riley & Carl Mann. (See 'Career History' page for a complete list of artists).
Whether playing solo or with his trio, Leyland's playing displays an infectious spontaneity, providing plenty of surprises for the listener. While he possesses the necessary vocabulary to pay tribute to the greats of old, he refuses to be limit himself to this & prefers to let each performance be an opportunity to say something new.
Elliott Adams
Elliott has been playing ragtime since age 10 and is now known internationally as a ragtime player, collector, historian, writer, and composer. His extensive collection of ragtime, blues, and early jazz sheet music is available to researchers, musicians, and publishers. He has several notable solo recordings on the Stomp Off and PianoMania labels.
Elliott is an intrepid golfer and a practicing dermatologist.
Elliott has been playing ragtime since age 10 and is now known internationally as a ragtime player, collector, historian, writer, and composer. His extensive collection of ragtime, blues, and early jazz sheet music is available to researchers, musicians, and publishers. He has several notable solo recordings on the Stomp Off and PianoMania labels.
Elliott is an intrepid golfer and a practicing dermatologist.
Brian Holland
Brian Holland is an internationally renown pianist, composer, recording artist, and entertainer who has enjoyed a music career spanning more than 35 years. After spending his formative years playing in pizza parlors and clubs throughout Indiana, Brian's career flourished when he discovered the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest. In 1999, he won his third title and was retired as "undefeated." He has since returned three times to serve on the judges panel.
Brian has played with some of the hottest jazz bands in the U.S. — Titan Hot Seven, Wally's Warehouse Waifs, the Holland Rhythm Company, and others — and has traveled all over the world performing his creative styles of jazz, ragtime, stride, boogie, and blues. Most recently Brian and Danny Coots have formed a musical partnership, and together they are quickly building a reputation as the fun and musical duo, Holland & Coots.
Brian has fourteen recordings (solo and ensemble) to his credit, and garnered a Grammy nomination for his work with Bud Dresser on their album, "Ragtime - Goodtime - Jazz".
Brian Holland is an internationally renown pianist, composer, recording artist, and entertainer who has enjoyed a music career spanning more than 35 years. After spending his formative years playing in pizza parlors and clubs throughout Indiana, Brian's career flourished when he discovered the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest. In 1999, he won his third title and was retired as "undefeated." He has since returned three times to serve on the judges panel.
Brian has played with some of the hottest jazz bands in the U.S. — Titan Hot Seven, Wally's Warehouse Waifs, the Holland Rhythm Company, and others — and has traveled all over the world performing his creative styles of jazz, ragtime, stride, boogie, and blues. Most recently Brian and Danny Coots have formed a musical partnership, and together they are quickly building a reputation as the fun and musical duo, Holland & Coots.
Brian has fourteen recordings (solo and ensemble) to his credit, and garnered a Grammy nomination for his work with Bud Dresser on their album, "Ragtime - Goodtime - Jazz".
Michael Chisholm
Michael is originally from Houston, Texas, but now living in Southern California, and grew up in a musically appreciative family. His first music training was in middle school, where he learned to play the xylophone and marimba. Eventually, he graduated to piano. Michael's first exposure to ragtime was watching JoAnn Castle play on a rerun of the Lawrence Welk Show. From that moment, he knew ragtime was his style of music. Since then, he has composed over 50 rags and has started collecting the original prints of ragtime sheet music. Besides piano, Michael likes to rag out on the flute, piccolo, and clarinet.
Michael is originally from Houston, Texas, but now living in Southern California, and grew up in a musically appreciative family. His first music training was in middle school, where he learned to play the xylophone and marimba. Eventually, he graduated to piano. Michael's first exposure to ragtime was watching JoAnn Castle play on a rerun of the Lawrence Welk Show. From that moment, he knew ragtime was his style of music. Since then, he has composed over 50 rags and has started collecting the original prints of ragtime sheet music. Besides piano, Michael likes to rag out on the flute, piccolo, and clarinet.
Danny Coots
Danny Coots in 1964 was just six years of age when he began playing drums in upstate New York. Since then, he has studied with Nick Baffaro, Rich Holly, Alan Koffman and Jim Petercsak in percussion. Danny attended The Crane School of Music and St. Lawrence University. He eventually served as adjunct faculty at St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University and Potsdam State University from the 1970s into the 1990s.
He continued traveling and performing with David Amram, Ray Shiner, Daniel Pinkham, Herb Ellis, Will Alger, Jack Mayhue, Speigle Wilcox, Mimi Hines, Phil Ford, Bob Darch, Pearl Kaufman and Arthur Duncan.
In 1996 Danny moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and has lived there ever since. Danny has recorded extensively in Nashville, New York and L.A. and has appeared in over 100 countries. He has played on over 100 recordings, one of which won a Grammy in 2005.
After moving to Tennessee, Danny joined the Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band for five years and helped found the Titan Hot Seven. During this time he played and recorded with Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Bob Wilber, Johnny Varro, Jeff Coffin, Tim Laughlin, Harry Allen, Dave Hungate, Bill Allred, John Allred, Randy Reinhart, Ron Hockett, John Cocuzzi, John Sheridan, Dan Barrett, Vince Giordano, Rebecca Kilgore, Ken Peplowski, Duke Heitger, Neville Dickie, Bob Shultz, Nicki Parrott, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Yve Evans, Chuck Hedges, Warren Vache and Allen Vache to name a few.
Danny Coots in 1964 was just six years of age when he began playing drums in upstate New York. Since then, he has studied with Nick Baffaro, Rich Holly, Alan Koffman and Jim Petercsak in percussion. Danny attended The Crane School of Music and St. Lawrence University. He eventually served as adjunct faculty at St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University and Potsdam State University from the 1970s into the 1990s.
He continued traveling and performing with David Amram, Ray Shiner, Daniel Pinkham, Herb Ellis, Will Alger, Jack Mayhue, Speigle Wilcox, Mimi Hines, Phil Ford, Bob Darch, Pearl Kaufman and Arthur Duncan.
In 1996 Danny moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and has lived there ever since. Danny has recorded extensively in Nashville, New York and L.A. and has appeared in over 100 countries. He has played on over 100 recordings, one of which won a Grammy in 2005.
After moving to Tennessee, Danny joined the Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band for five years and helped found the Titan Hot Seven. During this time he played and recorded with Dick Hyman, Houston Person, Bob Wilber, Johnny Varro, Jeff Coffin, Tim Laughlin, Harry Allen, Dave Hungate, Bill Allred, John Allred, Randy Reinhart, Ron Hockett, John Cocuzzi, John Sheridan, Dan Barrett, Vince Giordano, Rebecca Kilgore, Ken Peplowski, Duke Heitger, Neville Dickie, Bob Shultz, Nicki Parrott, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Yve Evans, Chuck Hedges, Warren Vache and Allen Vache to name a few.
John Reed Torres
Primarily self taught, John worked up performances of Scott Joplin rags and classical pieces. In 2009, John began studies at Pasadena City College and the Neighborhood Music School in Boyle Heights, where he was finally, after many years of perseverance, able to begin formal piano lessons through the generosity of scholarship donors. He has since performed at various venues in and around the city of Los Angeles, the states of California and Missouri, and even internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
John has written over a dozen rags to date, and has collaborated on compositions with fellow ragtime friends Vincent Johnson and Reginald Robinson. Currently a college junior and law office clerk, John aspires to perform, compose, and educate continually. Being of a diverse ethnic heritage, John believes music is a universal language — a link that connects us all. He wants to teach the history of ragtime to his generation and those that follow so everyone will recognize ragtime's important place in the development of culture and music.
Primarily self taught, John worked up performances of Scott Joplin rags and classical pieces. In 2009, John began studies at Pasadena City College and the Neighborhood Music School in Boyle Heights, where he was finally, after many years of perseverance, able to begin formal piano lessons through the generosity of scholarship donors. He has since performed at various venues in and around the city of Los Angeles, the states of California and Missouri, and even internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
John has written over a dozen rags to date, and has collaborated on compositions with fellow ragtime friends Vincent Johnson and Reginald Robinson. Currently a college junior and law office clerk, John aspires to perform, compose, and educate continually. Being of a diverse ethnic heritage, John believes music is a universal language — a link that connects us all. He wants to teach the history of ragtime to his generation and those that follow so everyone will recognize ragtime's important place in the development of culture and music.
Virginia Tichenor
Virginia Tichenor has been consumed by ragtime her entire life, as the daughter of Trebor Tichenor, the noted ragtime scholar, pianist, collector and founder of the St. Louis Ragtimers. She studied music at the St. Louis Community Association for the Arts and took advanced training from concert pianist, John Phillips. Always at the crossroads of the ragtime revival, her parental home houses the world's largest library of ragtime sheet music and piano rolls. Virginia grew up with legends like Eubie Blake, Max Morath and Butch Thompson chatting in her own living room.
Her father was advisor-confidant for most of the ragtime community, so Virginia often heard new rags when they were forming in the minds of their composers. The topic of her college research project? The ragtime revival, of course! In 1998, Virginia released her first solo recording, a CD entitledVirginia's Favorites. It includes four two-piano duets with her father, Trebor.
She is the Vice President, and past President, of the West Coast Ragtime Society.
Virginia Tichenor has been consumed by ragtime her entire life, as the daughter of Trebor Tichenor, the noted ragtime scholar, pianist, collector and founder of the St. Louis Ragtimers. She studied music at the St. Louis Community Association for the Arts and took advanced training from concert pianist, John Phillips. Always at the crossroads of the ragtime revival, her parental home houses the world's largest library of ragtime sheet music and piano rolls. Virginia grew up with legends like Eubie Blake, Max Morath and Butch Thompson chatting in her own living room.
Her father was advisor-confidant for most of the ragtime community, so Virginia often heard new rags when they were forming in the minds of their composers. The topic of her college research project? The ragtime revival, of course! In 1998, Virginia released her first solo recording, a CD entitledVirginia's Favorites. It includes four two-piano duets with her father, Trebor.
She is the Vice President, and past President, of the West Coast Ragtime Society.
Stevens Price
Stevens Price is the co- founder, with Keith Taylor, of the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, and former owner of the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium. He has currently taken over the reigns, so it is now the "Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival". He is the Master of Ceremonies for the festival where he can sing out some ragtime tunes as well as play them on the piano.
He began his musical career by singing in his church choir at age 8. Began playing the piano after hearing his Dad working on some Boogie Woogie. Soon music was an integral part of his growing up. Choirs, musical theater, concerts. He studied music and drama in college where he met his wife. He frequented the Maple Leaf Club in Los Angeles and grew to love ragtime music. Opening the Ice Cream Emporium in 1997, he brought in a player piano and soon acquired hundreds of rolls. The emporium was the ragtime center of the foothills. The Sierra Foothills Ragtime Society still meets there every other month. He is currently delivering mail in Sutter Creek and is known as the "Singing Mailman".
Stevens Price is the co- founder, with Keith Taylor, of the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, and former owner of the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium. He has currently taken over the reigns, so it is now the "Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival". He is the Master of Ceremonies for the festival where he can sing out some ragtime tunes as well as play them on the piano.
He began his musical career by singing in his church choir at age 8. Began playing the piano after hearing his Dad working on some Boogie Woogie. Soon music was an integral part of his growing up. Choirs, musical theater, concerts. He studied music and drama in college where he met his wife. He frequented the Maple Leaf Club in Los Angeles and grew to love ragtime music. Opening the Ice Cream Emporium in 1997, he brought in a player piano and soon acquired hundreds of rolls. The emporium was the ragtime center of the foothills. The Sierra Foothills Ragtime Society still meets there every other month. He is currently delivering mail in Sutter Creek and is known as the "Singing Mailman".
John Remmers
John hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, his interest in ragtime dating from the 1970s ragtime revival. He has been playing piano at festivals since the 1990s, all the more intensively since his retirement as a professor of mathematics and computer science in 2004. Specializing in the classic ragtime of Scott Joplin and his contemporaries, he has played at Sutter Creek since 2001 and was a regular performer at the Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri for many years. Other appearances include the West Coast Ragtime Festival, the Lake Superior Ragtime Festival, the Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, the Eau Claire Ragtime Festival, and the Greenfield Village Ragtime Street Fair. Recently John was the winner of the Senior Division of the 2018 World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest held in Oxford, Mississippi. His CD “Hand Played Rags” is available at the festival and online at cdbaby.com
John hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, his interest in ragtime dating from the 1970s ragtime revival. He has been playing piano at festivals since the 1990s, all the more intensively since his retirement as a professor of mathematics and computer science in 2004. Specializing in the classic ragtime of Scott Joplin and his contemporaries, he has played at Sutter Creek since 2001 and was a regular performer at the Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri for many years. Other appearances include the West Coast Ragtime Festival, the Lake Superior Ragtime Festival, the Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, the Eau Claire Ragtime Festival, and the Greenfield Village Ragtime Street Fair. Recently John was the winner of the Senior Division of the 2018 World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest held in Oxford, Mississippi. His CD “Hand Played Rags” is available at the festival and online at cdbaby.com
Patrick Aranda
Performing in Sutter Creek since 2002, Patrick has a huge ragtime Repertoire which includes novelty and Classic rags, Harlem stride and favorite tunes from the Tin Pan Alley era.
As A music professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga,, where he chairs the music department, Patrick also directs the jazz and concert bands and teaches classes ranging from theory to musicianship to history of Jazz.
Patrick plays trombone in his brother's Salsa band, performs with several Southern California Dixieland groups and has recorded his own solo Cd's.
He has been performing at Universal Studios, and along with Amanda Castro, maintains a full schedule of jazz and private party performances.
Performing in Sutter Creek since 2002, Patrick has a huge ragtime Repertoire which includes novelty and Classic rags, Harlem stride and favorite tunes from the Tin Pan Alley era.
As A music professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga,, where he chairs the music department, Patrick also directs the jazz and concert bands and teaches classes ranging from theory to musicianship to history of Jazz.
Patrick plays trombone in his brother's Salsa band, performs with several Southern California Dixieland groups and has recorded his own solo Cd's.
He has been performing at Universal Studios, and along with Amanda Castro, maintains a full schedule of jazz and private party performances.
Amanda Castro
Jazz Singer Amanda Castro specializes in vintage Jazz music from 1900-1940. Along with Patrick Aranda she co-leads the Amanda Castro band and currently the house band at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen located in Downtown Disney.
Amanda and Patrick have appeared in concert with jazz trumpet player and ten time grammy winner Arturo Sandoval. They also had a television appearance on Good Day LA.
Visit "amandacastro.com" for more information.
Jazz Singer Amanda Castro specializes in vintage Jazz music from 1900-1940. Along with Patrick Aranda she co-leads the Amanda Castro band and currently the house band at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen located in Downtown Disney.
Amanda and Patrick have appeared in concert with jazz trumpet player and ten time grammy winner Arturo Sandoval. They also had a television appearance on Good Day LA.
Visit "amandacastro.com" for more information.
Kylan deGhetaldi
Kylan deGhetaldi discovered ragtime at a young age after stumbling upon his father's collection of Scott Joplin compositions. Despite continuing to study classical music, Kylan was inevitably drawn to the irresistible appeal of ragtime.
A composer and church organist, Kylan founded and directed his own ragtime festival in Santa Cruz, California. In addition to his popular Youtube channel, which has amassed over 4 million views, Kylan plays with the musical sensation Postmodern Jukebox, and has since performed in over fifty cities and on four continents.
Kylan's other hobby is word games, and he has made a name for himself among the world's leading Scrabble players. His greatest joy is his beautiful daughter, Lyra.
Kylan deGhetaldi discovered ragtime at a young age after stumbling upon his father's collection of Scott Joplin compositions. Despite continuing to study classical music, Kylan was inevitably drawn to the irresistible appeal of ragtime.
A composer and church organist, Kylan founded and directed his own ragtime festival in Santa Cruz, California. In addition to his popular Youtube channel, which has amassed over 4 million views, Kylan plays with the musical sensation Postmodern Jukebox, and has since performed in over fifty cities and on four continents.
Kylan's other hobby is word games, and he has made a name for himself among the world's leading Scrabble players. His greatest joy is his beautiful daughter, Lyra.
Key System Rhythm Ramblers
Virginia Tichenor's Key System Rhythm Ramblers features great Ragtime era music lead by the super talented Virginia Tichenor on Piano, featuring Jeff Green on Plectrum Banjo/Vocals and Lisa Gonick on Tenor Banjo/Vocals. We'll be seranading you with a variety of Ragtime, Folk Ragtime, Dixieland and Early Jazz, from Scott Joplin to Fats Waller. This music is great for listening and even better to dance too. This is the trios first time playing at Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival and we're really looking forward to seeing you all there!
Mustache Wax Ragtime Band
Stevens: Price: Piano,
Richard Webster : French horn, Trumpet, Cornet, Mellophone and Didgeridoo
Scott Fritz : Trumpet, Cornet, Baritone horn, Ukulele, Tuba, Accordion and Didgeridoo,
Ted Williamson : Bass
The band was formed when Richard gathered them all together to play some early jazz standards and before you knew Stevens was playing them some ragtime on the piano and soon they had drifted to Ragtime permanently and everybody loved it. The bands ragtime repertoire is expanding monthly and they are eager to play anywhere they can.
Stevens: Price: Piano,
Richard Webster : French horn, Trumpet, Cornet, Mellophone and Didgeridoo
Scott Fritz : Trumpet, Cornet, Baritone horn, Ukulele, Tuba, Accordion and Didgeridoo,
Ted Williamson : Bass
The band was formed when Richard gathered them all together to play some early jazz standards and before you knew Stevens was playing them some ragtime on the piano and soon they had drifted to Ragtime permanently and everybody loved it. The bands ragtime repertoire is expanding monthly and they are eager to play anywhere they can.
Raspberry Jam Trio
Julia Riley : Flute, Piccolo, Bass Flute
John Massey : Guitar
Cheryl Woldseth, Violin and vocals
THE RJB TRIO began as a subset of the Raspberry Jam Band. The group consists of John Massey, guitar and vocals; Julia Riley, piccolo, flute and bass flute; and Cheryl Woldseth violin and vocals.
The group has performed at the Sonoma Ragtime Festival, the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, the West Coast Ragtime Festival, Music for Humanity, Pioneer Presents and other venues, private and public, as well as performing in Raspberry Jam Band concerts.
In 2016, the Raspberry Jam Band suffered the loss of two band members. Tom Brier, pianist, was in a serious automobile accident on August 6, 2016. Earlier the same year, Kitty Wilson, percussion, passed away after a prolonged bout with cancer. She made her final performance with the band in April of 2016. Both of these members had been part of the group since its inception in 2001.
A year following Tom Brier’s accident, the trio decided to carry on adapting some of the band’s repertoire and adding other compositions that fit within the parameters of a trio. From time to time, the trio has been joined by the band’s string bass player, Doug Davies, tuba player Mark Meeker and pianists Elliott Adams, Michael Chisholm and Adam Swanson. Other collaborations are possible in the future.
The trio makes its own arrangements from piano scores and adds an element of whimsey from time to time with costuming and the addition of slide whistle and kazoo. The group uses music from many time periods from late 1800s to contemporary compositions. The trio has adapted many of the compositions of former band pianist, Tom Brier, including them in their repertoire.
Performance videos of the group are available on www.youtube. com. See below:
Si Tu Vois Ma Mere:
https://youtu.be/jh3SsKzjSg4
The Merry Go ‘Round Broke Down
https://youtu.be/J_iN59b6Yek
…and many more.
Julia Riley : Flute, Piccolo, Bass Flute
John Massey : Guitar
Cheryl Woldseth, Violin and vocals
THE RJB TRIO began as a subset of the Raspberry Jam Band. The group consists of John Massey, guitar and vocals; Julia Riley, piccolo, flute and bass flute; and Cheryl Woldseth violin and vocals.
The group has performed at the Sonoma Ragtime Festival, the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, the West Coast Ragtime Festival, Music for Humanity, Pioneer Presents and other venues, private and public, as well as performing in Raspberry Jam Band concerts.
In 2016, the Raspberry Jam Band suffered the loss of two band members. Tom Brier, pianist, was in a serious automobile accident on August 6, 2016. Earlier the same year, Kitty Wilson, percussion, passed away after a prolonged bout with cancer. She made her final performance with the band in April of 2016. Both of these members had been part of the group since its inception in 2001.
A year following Tom Brier’s accident, the trio decided to carry on adapting some of the band’s repertoire and adding other compositions that fit within the parameters of a trio. From time to time, the trio has been joined by the band’s string bass player, Doug Davies, tuba player Mark Meeker and pianists Elliott Adams, Michael Chisholm and Adam Swanson. Other collaborations are possible in the future.
The trio makes its own arrangements from piano scores and adds an element of whimsey from time to time with costuming and the addition of slide whistle and kazoo. The group uses music from many time periods from late 1800s to contemporary compositions. The trio has adapted many of the compositions of former band pianist, Tom Brier, including them in their repertoire.
Performance videos of the group are available on www.youtube. com. See below:
Si Tu Vois Ma Mere:
https://youtu.be/jh3SsKzjSg4
The Merry Go ‘Round Broke Down
https://youtu.be/J_iN59b6Yek
…and many more.
The Easy Winners
Nick Robinson and Zac Salem – perform ragtime era music of the Americas on mandolin and guitar. Their repertoire includes classic rags, waltzes, cakewalks, tangos, marches, and songs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival they will be joined by special guest Robert Armstrong on Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele, banjo guitar, musical saw, and vocals.
Nick Robinson played mandolin with the Ragtime Skedaddlers string band at ragtime and roots music festivals throughout northern California. He produced their three CDs: Rag Time Skedaddlers, Mandolins at the Cake Walk, and The Latest Popular Mandolin and Guitar Music. Nick has also performed Balinese gamelan, old time mandolin, and klezmer music.
Zac Salem has been performing ragtime in the USA and Mexico since the age of 16. He is a vocalist, pianist, and performer on various stringed instruments. He is an enthusiastic researcher and collector of early twentieth century Mexican and Latin American popular song, and he performs ragtime era music on both mandolin and guitar.
Robert Armstrong started playing early 20th century on various string instruments while coming of age in Southern California. A founding member of the Cheap Suit Serenaders, he has performed with dozens of groups over the years that keep the sound and feel of old musical styles alive.
Nick Robinson and Zac Salem – perform ragtime era music of the Americas on mandolin and guitar. Their repertoire includes classic rags, waltzes, cakewalks, tangos, marches, and songs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival they will be joined by special guest Robert Armstrong on Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele, banjo guitar, musical saw, and vocals.
Nick Robinson played mandolin with the Ragtime Skedaddlers string band at ragtime and roots music festivals throughout northern California. He produced their three CDs: Rag Time Skedaddlers, Mandolins at the Cake Walk, and The Latest Popular Mandolin and Guitar Music. Nick has also performed Balinese gamelan, old time mandolin, and klezmer music.
Zac Salem has been performing ragtime in the USA and Mexico since the age of 16. He is a vocalist, pianist, and performer on various stringed instruments. He is an enthusiastic researcher and collector of early twentieth century Mexican and Latin American popular song, and he performs ragtime era music on both mandolin and guitar.
Robert Armstrong started playing early 20th century on various string instruments while coming of age in Southern California. A founding member of the Cheap Suit Serenaders, he has performed with dozens of groups over the years that keep the sound and feel of old musical styles alive.
The Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble
The group began about 1983 (not 1909, as they often claim) when Elliott Adams and Petra and Bub Sullivan started playing together as a trio at the Sacramento Ragtime Society sessions to explore harmonies and Elliott's sheet music collection. Over the years the group has expanded to its present size and instrumentation. This year there will be four Porcupines at the festival. Elliott Adams Piano, Petra Sullivan Violin, Bub Sullivan Mandolin and vocals, Susan Desper Flute and Piccolo.
The Porcupine repertoire ranges from folk rags to tangos, cakewalks, classical rags, marches, waltzes, one and two steps, plus many songs. In addition to having performed on public radio, in community concerts including several Stop and Smell the Roses, fairs and the state Railroad Museum, they are regulars at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee Ragtime Corner, the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, and the Sacramento Trad Jazz meetings. The group especially loves playing at the West Coast Ragtime Festival - since 1989 - for the great camaraderie and the elegant dancers. The Porcupines have entertained at the Sacramento City Library Galleria and the Stockton Caesar Chavez Library. In July ’07 The American Rag ran a featured interview, and April ’08 marked a first appearance at the Redding Jazz Festival.
They have four CD’s (“Quills Up!”, “Live!”, "Quilling Me Softly”, and, their latest, “Pig Ankles”) on the Miracle Records label (“If it’s good, it’s a miracle!”).
The group began about 1983 (not 1909, as they often claim) when Elliott Adams and Petra and Bub Sullivan started playing together as a trio at the Sacramento Ragtime Society sessions to explore harmonies and Elliott's sheet music collection. Over the years the group has expanded to its present size and instrumentation. This year there will be four Porcupines at the festival. Elliott Adams Piano, Petra Sullivan Violin, Bub Sullivan Mandolin and vocals, Susan Desper Flute and Piccolo.
The Porcupine repertoire ranges from folk rags to tangos, cakewalks, classical rags, marches, waltzes, one and two steps, plus many songs. In addition to having performed on public radio, in community concerts including several Stop and Smell the Roses, fairs and the state Railroad Museum, they are regulars at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee Ragtime Corner, the Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival, and the Sacramento Trad Jazz meetings. The group especially loves playing at the West Coast Ragtime Festival - since 1989 - for the great camaraderie and the elegant dancers. The Porcupines have entertained at the Sacramento City Library Galleria and the Stockton Caesar Chavez Library. In July ’07 The American Rag ran a featured interview, and April ’08 marked a first appearance at the Redding Jazz Festival.
They have four CD’s (“Quills Up!”, “Live!”, "Quilling Me Softly”, and, their latest, “Pig Ankles”) on the Miracle Records label (“If it’s good, it’s a miracle!”).