Festival Home Page

 2012 WCRF Special Shows§ and
Theme Sets† - Descriptions
 November 16, 17, and 20
This page updated 11/14/2012. Prior update.11/11/2012.

Performers Page Click on presenter's name for biographical information. 

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Shows and Sets are listed in chronological order.
FRIDAY, November 16, 2012
Friday, 12:45 – 1:30 pm, Sierra
Inspired by the recent Rivermont Records release Ian Whitcomb: Songs Without Words, Adam Swanson will play many of Ian's instrumental compositions not often heard at ragtime festivals. Many of these are very original rags Ian wrote and recorded for Tower Records, a major rock 'n' roll label in the 1960s. Special guest Bryan Wright will perform Ian's ragtime masterpiece, "Sandcastle (A Day By the Sea)."
Friday, 1:30 – 2:15 pm, Martinique
Tom Brier & Larisa Migachyov
Friday, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, Martinique
Jeff Barnhart. Travel back in time to a Midwest Sporting House in the twilight of the ragtime era, when the music, the women, and the tempers were hot!! Jeff explores the typical repertoire you would expect to hear during that colorful era. In one set you’ll hear the music of Joplin, Botsford, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Tin Pan Alley tunesmiths and Chopin!
Friday, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, Martinique
Max Morath presents a history of ragtime! Max’s premise is that the “history” of ragtime is being written now, with Sacramento in the forefront. If the music known as “ragtime” is to live on, it will depend on the many talented men and women composing and performing the various ragtime styles now. Of course, Max will also present that other “history” – the traditional ragtime styles and composers that inspired our contemporary artists. Featured performers include: Meredith Axelrod, Mimi Blais, Tom Brier, Crown Syncopators, Marty Eggers, Frederick Hodges, Brian Holland, Vincent Johnson, Max Keenlyside, Morten Gunnar Larsen, Adam Swanson, Virginia Tichenor, John Reed Torres, Stephanie Trick, and Craig Ventresco.
Friday, 4:30 – 5:00 pm, Sierra
Rosemary Hallum. Enjoy samples of the colorful novelty piano music of Ernst Fischer, multitalented European composer of the 1930s.
Friday, 5:30 – 6:15 pm, Camellia
Frederick Hodges. Fred Astaire got his start in Vaudeville during the ragtime era and performed many great ragtime songs when they were new. During his Hollywood film career, Astaire stared in many films set during the ragtime era, giving him the chance to sing and dance to some of the best rags. These wonderful pieces will be featured in this set.
Friday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Martinique
With so many performers, and a few who haven’t appeared here for a few years, how do you decide who to hear? This is your chance to hear new and returning performers play in their own unique styles. Featured performers include: Elliott Adams, Andrew Barrett, Mimi Blais, Tom Brier, Crown Syncopators, Frederick Hodges, Jeanette Isenberg, Vincent Johnson, Larisa Migachyov, Ezequiel Palleja, Dalton Ridenhour, Sophie Rivard, David Thomas Roberts, Sean Sharp, Ray Skjelbred, Grant Somerville, Martin Spitznagel, Adam Swanson, Ian Whitcomb, Bryan Wright, and Robert Young. Emceed by Jack Rummel.
Friday, 8:00 – 9:00 pm, Martinique
Here’s your chance to strut your stuff. Everyone gets to do the cakewalk, the high-kicking, bending, bowing dance style of the Turn of the Century, to the music of the Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble. If you’d like to really know the steps, go the Cakewalk dance class on Friday at 5:45 pm in J.B.’s Lounge, taught by Stan Isaacs. Even if you can’t make the class, get to the Martinique Ballroom at 8:00 pm, where the dance floor will be open for all. And when the cakewalk is over, there’s a slice of cake for everyone. 
† Jean-Baptiste Lafreniere: His 100th Anniversary of His Death 
Friday, 8:00 – 9:00 pm, Martinique
Mimi and Sophie play a selection of pieces by Jean-Baptiste Lafreniere, noting that the year 2012 is the 100th anniversary of his passing. 
Friday, 10:00 – 11:00 pm, Martinique
Frederick Hodges accompanies three silent movies! David Shepard, an internationally renowned film preservationist, is providing both the silent movies and historical commentary about the films. Shepard’s company, Film Preservation Associates, is responsible for many high quality DVD versions of silent films. Shepard began restoring films when he joined the American Film Institute in 1968 as one of their first staff members. In 1987, he bought the Blackhawk Films library. Mr. Shepard is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The silent movies are:
The Cure (1917) Charlie Chaplin - Charlie stars as a wealthy inebriate who checks into a swanky spa to dry out but throws the place into chaos instead. 
Felix Revolts (1923) Felix the Cat - Felix the cat stars in the imaginative and hilarious comedy short in which he leads a revolution of the town’s cats against a corrupt anti-cat mayor.
The Boat (1921) Buster Keaton - Buster Keaton stars in one of his greatest comedy shorts as a man who builds his own boat and takes his family on a pleasure cruise that ends in hilarious disaster when a freak storm ruins their trip.
SATURDAY, November 17, 2012
Saturday, 9:00 – 10:00 am, Camellia
Adam Swanson accompanies two silent movies! David Shepard, an internationally renowned film preservationist, is providing both the silent movies and historical commentary about the films. The silent movies are:
Chasing Choo Choos (1927) - Comedian Monty Banks supports the real star of this thrill comedy, a runaway train traversing Carisso Gorge on the old San Diego and Arizona Railway.
One A.M. (1916) - Charlie Chaplin is a toff who comes home intoxicated and tries to get upstairs to bed. That’s the whole set-up for two reels of flabbergasting pantomime!
Saturday, 10:00 – 11:00 am, Sierra
On Saturday, November 3, 2012, West Coast Ragtime Society hosted its 8th annual Youth Piano Competition for young pianists ages 8 – 18. The first place winners from each division will be participating in a Master Class led by festival headliner, Jeff Barnhart. This event is open to all festival attendees. Come hear the future of ragtime!
Saturday, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, J.B.’s 
Stanley Stern and Marti Lindholm play one hour of nothing but tango, milongas, and tango-waltzes in strict rhythm, allowing dancers a chance to practice their routines and steps.
Saturday, 2:00 – 2:45 pm, Sierra
David Thomas Roberts: A surprise premiere with the commissioning patron in the audience!
Saturday, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Martinique
West Coast Ragtime Society pays tribute to Nan Bostick. Nan lost her battle with lung cancer on March 26, 2012. Nan was actively involved with West Coast Ragtime Society as a performer, seminar coordinator, board member, and supporter. Nan is dearly missed! This concert features Nan’s own compositions, the music of Nan’s “Uncle Charlie” Charles N. Daniels, and musical remembrances about Nan. Featured performers include Andrew Barrett, Mimi Blais, Helen Burns, Crown Syncopators, Frederick Hodges, Jeanette Isenberg, Ivory & Gold, Ragnolia Ragtette, Christoph Schmetterer, Ragtime Skedaddlers, Sullivans/Drivons, Adam Swanson, and Robert Young. Emceed by Frederick Hodges. 
Saturday, 4:45 – 5:30 pm, Martinique
Bryan Wright: A special set featuring the impressionistic-inspired “modern piano solos” of the 1920s. The music of Bix Beiderbecke, Eastwood Lane, and Rube Bloom will be featured.
Saturday, 5:30 – 6:15 pm, Camellia
Ragtime piano duo, Jack and Chris Bradshaw, have mined a collection of ragtime gems from the pens of women composers that span over 100 years. Come hear this treasure chest of works by such notables from Aufderheide, Gustin, Koninsky, Pollock, Ponce, Stokes, Williamson to Bostick, Migachyov and others.
Saturday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Martinique
Every tune in this show is from 1912, when ragtime was the rage in America. Featured performers: Meredith Axelrod, Jeff Barnhart, Andrew Barrett, Chris & Jack Bradshaw, Tom Brier, Crown Syncopators, Marty Eggers, Ann Gibson, Frederick Hodges, Jeanette Isenberg, Morten Gunnar Larsen, Carl Sonny Leyland, Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble, Raspberry Jam Band, Sean Sharp, Martin Spitznagel, Bryan Wright, and Robert Young. Emceed by Max Morath.
Saturday, 8:00 pm, Martinique
Hundreds of marchers parade through the hotel in the tradition of the ragtime era, led by the West Coast Marching Band. This year’s marching band is comprised of musicians here at the festival from Ivory & Gold, Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra, Porcupine Ragtime Ensemble, and Raspberry Jam Band, plus other surprise guests. So put on your finest attire and join the big parade!
Saturday, 8:45 – 10:00 pm, Martinique
Guest vocalists Joyce Grant and Pam Adams join the Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra for the Saturday evening dance in the Martinique Ballroom. Joyce and Pam are the great great nieces of Uncle Scott Joplin! Their grandmother was Mattie Joplin Harris. Grandma Mattie's father was Scott Joplin's older brother. Joyce and Pam are sisters and both reside in the nearby San Francisco Bay Area.
Saturday, 9:15 – 10:00 pm, Yosemite
As a supplement to the excellent centennial special show “Ragtime 1912!” Andrew Barrett offers another set full of great tunes from 1912, many of which you might not have heard before.
Saturday, 10:00 – 11:00 pm, Martinique
In this program, Sean Sharp and Frederick Hodges will present a grand selection of twelve illustrated songs for your enjoyment. Illustrated songs, the first “music videos,” used beautifully hand-colored, live-model photographs to “illustrate” the songs presented and were popular from 1894 to 1914, first in vaudeville and later in the nickelodeon theaters. A solo singer would introduce the song; the final slide (“All Join in the Chorus”) would show the words of the song’s chorus, allowing the audience to join the soloist in a rip-roaring finish. The images to be shown are from the original glass slides, courtesy of the Marnan Collection in Minneapolis, and have been digitally scanned and carefully restored by Sean Sharp and Mark Ryan. Included will be such favorites as “Play That Barbershop Chord” and “You Made Me Love You,” along with lesser-known, but equally enjoyable, titles. Come join singer Sean Sharp, your “Song Illustrator,” and Frederick Hodges at the piano, as they take you into the gorgeous, garish, hilarious and, sometimes, outlandish world of illustrated songs. Introduction by Max Morath.
SUNDAY, November 18, 2012
Sunday, 9:00 – 9:45 am, Martinique
Ivory & Gold present a gospel and inspirational set on Sunday morning. Some gospel tunes predate ragtime while others were conceived after the era had come to a close. All share a cathartic outpouring of joy, hope, and sorrow conveyed in the best rags. Ivory & Gold will be joined by Steve Drivon on drums for this special set.
Sunday, 10:00 – 11:30 am Martinique
The future of ragtime depends on the ragtime playing youth of today, so our festival provides opportunities for outstanding young ragtimers to spotlight their talents. All our youth performers are in this one show. Diego Bustamente, Vincent Johnson, Max Keenlyside, Frank LiVolsi, Will Perkins, Grant Somerville, Adam Swanson, and John Reed Torres. Emceed by Stephanie Trick.
Sunday, 2:45 – 3:15 pm, Yosemite
Rosemary Hallum: Welcome the great Max Morath with Rosie playing selected numbers from his many ragtime works.
Sunday, 3:15 – 4:00 pm, J.B.’s Lounge
Tom Brier plays an entire set of “modern” rags written during the ragtime revival.
Sunday, 4:00 – 5:30 pm, Martinique
The Festival Finale’s theme this year is a tribute to our special guest, Max Morath. Come hear highlights of the festival all in one show for the last special concert of the festival. In a variety show format, the show features many festival performers including: Jeff Barnhart, Andrew Barrett, Mimi Blais, Tom Bopp, Tom Brier, Helen Burns, Crown Syncopators, Rosemary Hallum, Frederick Hodges, Brian Holland, Ivory & Gold, Vincent Johnson, Max Keenlyside, Morten Gunnar Larsen, Carl Sonny Leyland, Ragnolia Ragtette, Raspberry Jam Band, Martin Spitznagel, Adam Swanson, Sullivans/Drivons, Stephanie Trick, and Bryan Wright. Emceed by Jeff Barnhart.
Sunday, 5:30 pm, Coffee Garden Restaurant
One last chance to hear great ragtime! The hotel provides a buffet dinner and the bar is available. Seating capacity is limited, so buy your tickets ahead for this event to be assured a seat. Tickets will be on sale at the Clarion at the front desk and in the ragtime café during the festival weekend.

Special Event Key
  † Theme Set 
 § Special Show