2010 WCRF Theme Sets † November 19, 20, and 21 This page updated 11/7/2010. Prior update 11/7/2010.
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Americana and the Roots of Ragtime   Scott Kirby, Friday, noon-12:45 P.M., Sierra  Pianist/Composer Scott Kirby presents a special program designed to explore certain dimensions of ragtime’s origins which are often overlooked. Traditional American and Pan-American styles will be presented here, showing their impact on popular music in general, and ragtime specifically. This mostly chronological survey will start in the mid-19th century with the music of Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The set will also include the songs of Stephen Foster, the march music of John Philip Sousa, a sampling of Central and South American dance-based styles, Creole music of the Caribbean, and selections from the North American folk and popular song traditions.
The Ragtime Ukulele Ian & Regina Whitcomb with Frederick Hodges, Friday, 1:15-2:00 P.M., J.B.’s Lounge  The ukulele has been immersed in syncopation since its introduction to the mainland in 1915. Stars such as Ukulele Ike & George Formby illustrate the high-speed syncopations. Ian has integrated this little instrument into his ragtime numbers.
Meet the Modern Player Piano: Yamaha’s Disklavier Friday, 3:00-3:45 P.M., Yosemite with Stephanie Trick  Saturday, 2:30-3:15 P.M., Yosemite with Carl Sonny Leyland  Sunday, 1:00-1:45 P.M., Yosemite with Max Keenlyside  This year’s festival pianos are sponsored entirely by Yamaha. One of Yamaha’s premier pianos is the Disklavier, the modern player piano. Representatives from Music Exchange, Yamaha’s exclusive piano dealer in Sacramento, will lead these informative sets in the Yosemite Room, one each day of the festival. On Friday, Stephanie Trick will be on hand to help demonstrate how the Disklavier works. Carl Sonny Leyland will assist in demonstrating the Disklavier on Saturday. On Sunday, Max Keenlyside will be on hand to play some music samples for everyone to enjoy. Stop by and check out Yamaha’s Disklavier!
Pete Clute, Wally Rose and Their California Ragtime Influence Rosemary Hallum & Cleve Baker, Friday, 5:00-5:30 P.M., Comstock 3  Cleve & Rosemary present a special set on legendary Bay Area ragtimers Wally Rose & his student Pete Clute. Brief remarks plus musical examples, both duets & solos, illustrating how their influence appears in Lu Watters, Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey, & Dave Brubeck.
Joe Lamb Rarities Christoph Schmetterer, Friday, 6:00-6:45 P.M., Sierra  Joseph F. Lamb composed many more pieces than the 12 famous rags published by John Stark. Christoph plays his earliest rags and a selection of his waltzes and songs.
Bollywood and Beyond Raspberry Jam Band, Friday, 7:15-8:15 P.M., J.B.’s Lounge  All tunes with titles from the Middle East, like Hindustan, Egyptian Ella, and Arabian Rag.
Schmetterer Plays Schmetterer Christoph Schmetterer, Saturday, 9:00-9:45 A.M., Sierra  Christoph plays his best rags, waltzes, and tangos.
Youth Master Class Saturday, 10:00-11:00 A.M., Sierra  On Saturday, November 6, 2010, West Coast Ragtime Society hosted its 6th annual Youth Piano Competition for young pianists ages 8 to 18. The first place winners from each division will be participating in a Master Class led by festival headliner, Richard Dowling. This event is open to all festival attendees. Come hear the future of ragtime!
Rummel plays Rummel: Hits and Misses Part 1 Jack Rummel, Saturday, 10:45-11:30 A.M., Yosemite  Jack Rummel has made significant contributions to contemporary ragtime and many of his compositions have been performed and/or recorded by others. Hear him discuss and play his own works in two special sets. Part 1 takes place on Saturday.
Hello Kitty and Rosie Rosemary Hallum with Kitty Wilson, Saturday, noon-12:30 P.M., Comstock 3  Come hear Rosie (of “Rosie’s Corner” in the American Rag) interview washboard wiz Kitty Wilson. Questions & answers with musical demonstration.
From Ragtime to Gershwin Martin Jäger, Saturday, 1:15-2:00 P.M., Sierra  Martin performs ragtime selections and includes a performance of “Rhapsody in Blue,” version for solo piano, in this special set.
Chopin 200 Richard Dowling, Saturday, 1:30-2:30 P.M., Martinique  Richard Dowling celebrates the 200th birthday of Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) with a concert of his best-known works, punctuated by some Chopin-inspired ragtime. A special classical & ragtime treat that you won't want to miss!
Around the World With Tango Stanley Stern & Richard Webb, Saturday, 2:15-3:00 P.M., J.B.’s Lounge  Tango dances, though born in Argentina, rapidly reached around the world starting in the Ragtime era. Stanley Stern and Richard Webb will play 45 minutes of tangos from Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Germany, Cuba, and the United States. They will also include a few special Latin tinged tangos from Brazil, a maxixe, a habanera, tango music from Broadway and Hollywood, and some nuevo tangos by Astor Piazolla.
All Strung Out on Early Detroit: Gems from the Whitney-Warner String Band Collections Nan Bostick with the Ragtime Skedaddlers, Saturday, 3:15-4:00 P.M., Camellia  Nan Bostick and The Ragtime Skedaddlers celebrate early ragtime hits arranged for mandolins, guitar, and piano by Detroit’s Whitney Warner Publishing Co., precursor to the giant Jerome H. Remick & Co. With scholars like Dennis Pash and Bostick on board, there’ll be plenty of history to accompany the toe-tapping, including an explanation on how Kansas City composers got connected up with Detroit.
The Ragtime of Scott Joplin Scott Kirby, Saturday, 3:15-4:00 P.M., Martinique  This set will present ragtime works by the great American composer, Scott Joplin. Selections will include rags, syncopated waltzes, syncopated marches, and syncopated habaneras. The interpretations are based upon the original scores, with slight variations found only in the repeated strains.
Musical Mayhem Big Mama Sue & Fast Eddie with Jeff Barnhart, Saturday, 7:15-8:00 P.M., J.B.’s Lounge  Join Big Mama Sue on washboard & vocals, Eddie Erickson on banjo, and Jeff Barnhart on piano Saturday night in J.B.’s lounge for a set of musical mayhem!
An Evening at the Palace: The Best Ragtime Songs from the Vaudeville Stage Frederick Hodges & Ann Gibson, Saturday, 8:00-9:00 P.M., J.B.’s Lounge  Singer Ann Gibson and pianist Frederick Hodges team up to present a musical celebration of the best ragtime songs originally presented in Vaudeville by such legendary performers as Sophie Tucker, Fanny Brice, Nora Bayes, Eva Tanguay, Mae West, and May Irwin.
Rummel plays Rummel: Hits and Misses Part 2 Jack Rummel, Sunday, 9:00-9:45 A.M., Sierra  Jack Rummel has made significant contributions to contemporary ragtime and many of his compositions have been performed and/or recorded by others. Hear him discuss and play his own works in two special sets. Part 2 takes place on Sunday.
Modern Rags from the Ragtime Revival Tom Brier, Sunday, 9:45-10:30 A.M., Sierra  Tom Brier plays an entire set of “modern” rags written during the ragtime revival.
All Originals Martin Jäger, Sunday, 10:30-11:15 A.M., Yosemite  A selection of all original compositions composed and performed by Martin Jaeger.
Music From Vienna Rosemary Hallum & Christoph Schmetterer, Sunday, 11:00-11:30 A.M., Comstock 3  Rags, waltzes, polkas, marches & intermezzos in duets & solos with brief commentary.
Fats Waller: Rare and Previously Unheard Fats! Jeff Barnhart, Sunday, noon-12:45 P.M., Sierra  Jeff Barnhart performs a set of rare and previously unheard Fats Waller tunes.
Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra with Guest Vocalist Joyce Grant Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, Sunday, 12:45-1:45 P.M., Martinique  The Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra will be joined by a very special guest vocalist for this set only at the festival. Joyce Grant, vocalist and songwriter, comes from a rich musical heritage. She is the great-great niece of “King of Ragtime” Scott Joplin. Described as “a mezzo-soprano with a voice like dark honey,” Joyce has been singing in San Francisco and Bay Area venues for over 20 years. Please be sure to catch Joyce Grant, a spectacular entertainer of royal ragtime lineage, in her first-ever appearance at the West Coast Ragtime Festival.
All About Tom Raspberry Jam Band, Sunday, 2:00-2:45 P.M., J.B.’s Lounge  All tunes either have Tom in the title or were written by a Tom.