Rwb

The Red Wing Blackbirds Ragtime Jazz Band

Director: John Barath - 1st Cornet, Piano, Vocals Myra Lutomski - 2nd Cornet Sarah Restifo - Flute, Piccolo Bill Olsen - Clarinet Karl Kelbaugh - Trombone Norm Dahl - Tuba Si Salzburg - Drums/Percussion Larry Mesic - Baritone Horn Henry Ketterer - Bells, Piano Artis Ketterer - Piano, Bass Clarinet

The Blackbirds re-create an authentic type of band that would entertain and play at functions from the 20th turn-of-the-century into the Jazz Age (1890's -- 1925). The band has been in existence since 1979. The musical arrangements are the original scores. We have over 400 arrangements in the Library. The mission of the band is to play the arrangements exactly as written to preserve the historical concept that existed before improvised Jazz. Many of the songs have become standards performed by many Jazz greats even today. They were written by some well-known composers such as Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, W.C. Handy, Ferd 'Jelly Roll' Morton. The styles are dances, popular songs, rags, blues, Broadway show tunes, and early written jazz. Each piece we play has a story. Songs were written about the latest inventions of the time; the telephone, automobiles, and flying machines. Dances were named after animals; The Turkey trot, Fox Trot. The influence of America on the rest of the world begins with Ragtime music taken internationally by Sousa. World War 1 songs written for Broadway shows became the pop patriotic music of its time. We also play Early Jazz compositions by Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong and his hot Five and Seven. John Barath is from Poughkeepsie, NY. His interest in Ragtime and early Jazz has fueled RWB to become a viable performing group. John plays piano, cornet, and sings some of the greatest songs ever written. Check out our version of Alexander's Ragtime Band. The Red Wing Blackbirds Ragtime Jazz Band has performed at many local venues including: Locust Grove, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., The Rosendale Cafe, Rosendale, N.Y., The Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, N.Y., and The Uptown, Kingston, N.Y.. We have a CD available for $15. (plus S&H) by writing to; ragtimeband1@hotmail.com.
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