haley@niwot.scd.ucar.edu (Mary Haley) wrote:
>
> 
> This group has kind of been quiet.  I'd like to hear from folks out
> there that have been going to ragtime festivals.  Did anybody in
> addition to Mark Lutton and Ed Berlin go to the Sedalia festival?  If
> so, what did you like most about it?  Any exciting new performers we
> should know about?
> 
> Also, I read in the Scott Joplin Festival program that John Arpin
> was unable to make it due to health problems.  Does anybody know how
> he's doing now?
> 
> I believe Ron O'Dell said that John Gill was playing some gigs in
> California.  Has anybody heard any of them yet?
> 
> I want details!
> 
> I'm getting kind of drooly because both Frank French and Scott Kirby
> are playing at a hotel in town tonight.  Hopefully Scott will also
> start playing on the Pearl Street Mall (in Boulder). 
> 
> Thanks for any info,
> 
> Mary
> haley@ncar.ucar.edu

The Sedalia festival was as great as ever, and folks should know that
it is turning out to be the springboard for other ragtime events in 
the Missouri area.  Although the festival started officially on 
Thursday, our week started on Tuesday in Versailles, Missouri, with 
"Mimi and friends."  This is the fifth year Mimi has done this show - 
the first year was her alone, and she tells a delightful story of 
playing on an old upright, and apparently wowed them enough in 
Versailles that she has been coming back ever since, just before the 
Joplin festival.  In 1992, she added Mike Schwimmer (the washboardist 
from the Elite Syncopators) as her guest.  1993, she had Mike 
Schwimmer and Bob Milne join her.  In 1994, Mimi, Mike, and Bob were 
joined by Scott Kirby.  This year, Mimi, Mike, Bob, and Scott were 
joined by Daulton Ridenhour, a 13 year old from St. James, Missouri 
who some of you may have heard in Sedalia over the past few years.  
This kid is continually getting better - and always is willing to play 
some tough stuff.  He does a great job with Eubie Blake.  Anyway, 
after this as a warm-up, the Joplin festival was outstanding.  
Morton Gunnar Larson brought his Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra from 
Norway - amazing group.  They played for the Ragtime Dance on Thursday, 
and the evening concert on Saturday, with wonderful performances of 
Larson's arrangements.  There were a few newcomers, as others have 
posted, including Philip Dyson doing the works of Billy Mayerl.  
The usual headliners were as great we've come to expect, especially 
Scott Kirby's "Baltimore Todolo" rendition at the first evening show.  
Tony Caramia put on a wonderful display of Zez Confrey novelties, and 
has a great recording of novelties called "Hot Ivories" that you should 
keep an eye out for.  As the Joplin festival wound down, we had one 
more chance as Morton Gunnar Larson and the Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra 
moved sixty miles down the road along with Scott Kirby to Columbia, MO 
for the annual Monday after Sedalia concert put on by Lucille Salerno.  
This is the fifth year for this even as well.  Another amazing night, 
including Scott and Morton doing some double piano numbers (how did 
they keep the moving bass octaves in the beginning of "Charleston Rag" 
together?).  In Mid-Missouri, we certainly had our fill of ragging 
after that week (but always want more).  I understand that Dick Zimmerman 
had a Tuesday before Sedalia show outside of Kansas City - don't know 
who was performing there.

Basically, the point of this long-worded post is to tell anyone heading 
for Sedalia to check on some of these pre- and post- festival concerts.  
I'll try to get word out about the Columbia show for next year as soon 
as we know what will be up.