CD Review: Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra- Euphonic Sounds
(Radical Pop Music From the Ragtime Era)

Label: Stomp Off Records 2004

Personnel: Jon Erik-Kelso-cornet, Skye Steele-violin, Orange Kellin-clarinet, Brad Shigeta-trombone, Terry Waldo-piano, John Gill-banjo, guitar, vocals, Conal Fowkes-string bass, Rob Garcia-drums

For the majority of jazz devotees, the period referred to as the ragtime era, roughly the first 2 decades of the 20^th century, is unfamiliar and largely ignored. Though ragtime is thought to be a logical starting point in the study of jazz, the recorded history of the music is really where it really begins for all but the most avid researcher. A couple of names from ragtime history, namely Scott Joplin and W.C Handy, have a place in the popular music lexicon, mainly because their excellent and challenging compositions were preserved on piano rolls and sheet music and favored by pianists with a classical music bent as well as by fans of early jazz, but many other important ragtime composers have all but faded into obscurity. Still others, like Jelly Roll Morton, Sydney Bechet, and Duke Ellington made their mark further into the 1920's as ragtime was fading out and improvised solos began to point the direction of the music.

Because of its association with player piano rolls and sheet music, ragtime is often thought of as solo piano music, but popular music ensembles of the era often orchestrated the music for ensemble playing. Orchestrations of ragtime and its derivatives are considerably rarer than the piano sheet music and rolls, mainly because the piano music was so much more of a household item, whereas the orchestrations were in the hands of professionals and not produced in quantity.

It is our good fortune then, that lovers of this early music cared enough to seek out the more obscure composers and orchestrations and bring them back to life as recorded music. The Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra, under the tutelage of clarinetist Orange Kellin is an octet of New York based professionals playing this music with love and commitment for a 21^st century audience. The reference to "radical pop music" is an indication that, as in any 20 year period of music, there was much more going on in the ragtime era than just ragtime. Most of the repertoire is dance music, and as such is "pop-ish" in its appeal and accessibility; hence the sub-title "radical pop music from the ragtime era".

Kellin and company, at least a few of whom have ties to Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, whose stock in trade is music from a slightly more recent era, serve up a fun program of tunes, many of which have been arranged by band member John Gill. The repertoire is laced with what Jelly Roll Morton called the Spanish Tinge, as well as some faux Middle Eastern sounds that at times conjure up a Klezmer feeling. Some of the tunes feature fine solos by the front line, others are pre-jazz polyphonic arrangements played as written. Overall, the music is highly entertaining, well played, and truly unique.

The MRO can be heard live at the Cajun Restaurant in New York City every Thursday night. The disc is available through-  www.stompoffrecords.com .

                                                                                   - Richard Mayer,  November 2004

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