River Raisin Ragtime Revue • A Ragtime Christmas

Founded in 2002, the River Rasin Ragtime Revue is one of the premier ragtime ensembles in the country. They have grown support in their local Michigan community with exciting stage productions featuring dancers and period costumes while honoring golden era figures like Bert Williams and contemporary ragtimers like Reginald Robinson. I most enjoyed an album-length investigation they did of the trombone in early American popular music. Serious music and serious fun is their mission, a mission that has recently found a beautiful home in Haviland Hall in Adrian, Michigan. An update on that endeavor, and their continued success at sustaining a local nonprofit music organization, can be found in this issue. William Pemberton, Executive Director and tuba player for the group, tells me their ninth album was possibly the most fun of all. A Ragtime Christmas features ten familiar carols given a ragtime orchestration by Musical Director Emeritus William Hayes. They are true to the ragtime spirit, sprightly and bright, with lots of warmth to accompany your holiday undertakings without any intrusion from vocals. The peanut gallery told me they felt like they were at Disneyland for Christmas with this album playing loudly through the house, which, from them, I took as quite the compliment. Thirteen musicians appear on A Ragtime Christmas, including strings. They play “Jingle Bells,” “White