response 26 of 53:

Nov 3 15:37 UTC 2005

We're still looking for a permanent name, but for purposes of putting 
something into the hat we chose "Apex Ragtime Trio" (banjoist Erik's 
suggestion).  Ragtime ensembles often name themselves after particular 
ragtime pieces -- for instance, Scott Joplin wrote "Paragon Rag", and 
there's a Paragon Ragtime Orchestra.  We may go that route.

There were more names in the hat than slots on the program, but our 
ticket was drawn and we got to perform - late in the evening, act #14 
out of a total of 16.  We did Charles Johnson's "Fun on the 
Levee" (1917)and Joseph Lamb's "Bohemia Rag" (1919).  Two fun pieces, 
and the audience appeared to enjoy them.  I'm happy to report that The 
Ark has an eminently playable Yamaha grand piano and a fine sound man.  
Known Grexers in the audience were mary, aruba, and krj.

I'd not been to an Open Stage Night at the Ark before and thought the 
overall quality was pretty good.  As expected, there were a number of 
singer-songwriters of varying quality sporting guitars or playing the 
piano (wish I could remember the names of the ones I especially liked). 
The highlight for me was an amazing mandolin/guitar/percussion trio from 
Portland, Oregon called "Sneakin' Out" who did a hilarious medley of the 
Stones' "Paint It Black" and Beethoven's 5th Symphony.  They're in 
Michigan for a few days doing gigs in Flint, Detroit, and elsewhere.  
Schedule is on their website, http://www.sneakinout.com .  You should 
catch their act if you can.

response 28 of 53:

Nov 4 00:15 UTC 2005

I also enjoyed the young woman who was up early on, singing her
own stuff.  What a voice.  And the blonde woman near the very end
of the evening with the song she'd written over twenty some years.

Mostly, I was very amazed at the talent and variety, for free.
Joni would be pleased.

response 30 of 53:

Nov 6 19:23 UTC 2005

While the Macedonians were conquering the Knowne Worlde, their leader
realised he needed a way to coordinate attacks of dispersed forces.  Earlier
in his life, he'd stumbled across a combination of liquids that, when dried,
would change colours consitently as the hours passed.  He soaked some cloths
in this mixture and gave them to his commanders to wear during the battle.

Perhaps you could name your trio for this invention, John?

response 32 of 53:

Nov 10 17:52 UTC 2005

jablko is Czech for apple.

response 34 of 53:

Nov 11 21:47 UTC 2005

Mary McCaslin has joined the lineup of the "Katie Geddes and Friends"
show at Green Wood Coffee House on Dec 9. She will do two duets with me
("Canaan's Land" and "Hello Stranger") and a short set of her own.

response 36 of 53:

Nov 12 13:08 UTC 2005

I'm not on the official performers list, but I've been scheduled for some 
piano playing at the West Coast Ragtime Festival in Sacramento, CA this 
coming week, November 18-21.  
http://www.westcoastragtime.com/05wcrf-home.htm

response 38 of 53:

Nov 20 22:11 UTC 2005

8 pm, jep.

Looks like Mustard's Retreat (or half of it) may also join the Dec. 9 show.

response 40 of 53:

Dec 3 14:25 UTC 2005

Some details on the December 11 Ragtime Bash, excerpted from the Ann
Arbor Observer:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
32nd Annual Holiday Ragtime Bash:  First Unitarian-Universalist Church.
"Smiling sellout crowds," according to the organizers, turn out every
year for this feast of piano ragtime and traditional jazz, with
boogie-woogie and blues thrown in for good measure.  Tonight's line-up
of top-notch performers include the veteran husband-and-wife duo of
pianist Bill Bolcom (also a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer) and
mezzo-soprano Joan Morris, a duo of the River Raisin Ragtime Revue
pianist Edward Wyman and cellist Emily Stoops, veteran Detroit blues
pianist Bob Seely, local ragtime pianist John Remmers, acclaimed ragtime
historian Mike Montgomery, recent U-M grad Kent "Cannonball" Eschelman,
and others.  7:30 p.m., First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4001 Ann
Arbor-Saline Rd. at Ellsworth.  Tickets $15 in advance at Nicola's Books
and at the door.  665-6158
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think of Bob Seely as more a boogie-woogie pianist than blues.  In any
case, he's a dynamo.

They're not mentioned by name, but two other performers that I know will
be appearing are 13-year-old ragtime wunderkind Adam Swanson and
Detroit-area classical ragtime performer Rich Berry.

response 42 of 53:

Dec 4 22:07 UTC 2005

Please come to the Katie and Friends show at Green Wood this Friday!
The bill includes The Usual Suspects, Matt Watroba's Jukebox Folk
Quartet, All About Eve and Mary McCaslin. I am part of the first three
groups and will duet with Mary.

response 44 of 53:

Dec 8 18:45 UTC 2005

It's probably a bit late for this, but if anyone is in Grand Rapids tonight,
the Calvin College Meistersingers (of which I am a member) and Lyric Singers
will be giving a concert at Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church, which is (I
believe) on the corner of Burton and Cascade Streets SE at 7:00 PM.

response 46 of 53:

Dec 8 19:11 UTC 2005

Much too "modern" pieces for my taste, all with sacred texts -- two spirituals,
settings of two psalms, a setting of the Kyrie text, a Christmas piece, etc.

response 48 of 53:

Dec 8 19:45 UTC 2005

No. One's a festival-style (if I understand what that means) setting
of Psalm 150 entitled "Praise Him!", and the other is a versification
of Psalm 126. Everything except the Kyrie, which is in the Greek
(but everyone except me seems to think it's in Latin), and one piece
in some African language and English both, is in English.