We have faced many obituaries of major figures in music since the pandemic and a similar increase in the number of program and event cancellations
The earliest identified American ragtime compositions had their origins in the south and were inspired by minstrel music, particularly the folk banjo, and the popular
Since there are some TST readers and many young people who are not well acquainted with ragtime backstories, this column will attempt to provide an
I was delighted to receive an email from Walter Ray last week regarding my TST column on contemporary performances of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. He is
My first attendance at a live concert in months brought many emotions and memories. First, and foremost I was reminded how much pure joy radiates
“I could see that, if not entirely disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.” P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters Dave Jasen always seemed
I have written a lot about Treemonisha over the years and since 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the first two fully staged productions of
Word spread quickly through the music community in St. Louis and then by social media across the nation that the Scott Joplin House at 2658
I have met or learned of some of the most interesting people through conversations with Max Morath. Recently he happened to mention his work in
As I look for an expressive way to describe ragtime, sheer exuberant joy comes immediately to mind. That joy and excitement is no better illustrated
It is always a pleasure to receive comments from readers. This past month I was delighted to hear from an old friend in Sweden, Peter
As a child in 1949, I had a routine of surreptitiously going into the living room after everyone was asleep to listen to late night
When Joe Bebco forwarded an inquiry about Max Morath from Anne Phillips recently, I anxiously responded. Anne and her husband, bassist Bill Phillips, were neighbors
Memorial Day weekend this year was once again the occasion for live performances at the World Championship Old Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival in
Have you ever immersed yourself in a trivial pursuit while important tasks needed your immediate attention? Well, a friend recently added six inches of sheet
I must begin by congratulating the esteemed editor of this publication on his election as a 2022 Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association. It
This is a pleasant article for me to write, though it resurrects a reminder of unpleasant times. I hope readers will find the healing nature
The City of Sedalia and the Furnell Family Companies previously announced the beginning of construction on a large Pavilion in downtown Sedalia to be used
I have been fighting several bold infections since Thanksgiving that have left me feeling lethargic as a petrified sloth. As a result, I have quite
A few days ago, Chris Robinson sent me a YouTube website address to watch the 2021 Christmas Parade in Sedalia, Missouri, featuring the Scott Joplin
I surprised myself when I placed the phone back on its port and just sat to let the inspiring emotion of the previous conversation mellow.
The intrepid West Coast Ragtime Society has announced the overwhelming success of their 2021 virtual 35th annual Ragtime Festival. For the second year, the all-video
I recently made a connection that has been in front of me for 40 plus years and which has nearly bowled me over. I spent
I was writing an autumn poem for our local nature reserve newsletter this morning describing family trips I remember as a kid. I grew up
