[Dixielandjazz] St Louis Happenings

[eupher dude]

last night, the 24th, the St Louis Ragtimers (Trebor Tichenor, piano, Al Stricker banjo and vox, Don Franz bass sax) played at 
Dressel's Public House in St Louis to celebrate whatever birthday of Scott Joplin---142?  143 maybe?--with a 3 hour set.

This is the setting for the monthly Friends of Scott Joplin sessions, too.  First Sunday, 530pm...

It's always great hearing the Ragtimers.  The sheer joy they have for the music is worth it alone, much less the quality they give.  The upstairs room at Dressel's isn't very big, so it was more like a classical chamber music concert  than a bar gig.  Lots of banter among the band and the audience.  A genuinely good time came to the 100 or so who were there.  At least, that's what the bartender said the room holds.

It was great to sit with a number of banjo players and piano players, too.  They're really not bad people as a group, I'm finding out more and more :D

It's really great to hear Don playing bass sax.  I'm amazed that he doesn't use alternate fingerings, pretty much the basics learned in grade school work well on that particular Conn.  It's beautiful and somewhat storied.  Don does wear his trademark gray top hat playing that, too.  

Banjos and Brass continues every Friday night, too.  The crowds are great, the restaurant is loving it, and we're having a blast playing for everyone.  Anyone on Facebook can like the Banjos and Brass page, and there's a link to some really good photos taken a couple of weeks ago.  I can highly recommend the young woman who took them, since she's my niece....but she really does have a great eye for photo work, and a love of almost all music. 

The St Louis Jazz Club will have its Christmas party featuring Red Lehr and the St Louis Rivermen.  Guaranteed fun!

Hoping everyone in the US had a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day, and that our friends elsewhere had a quiet and happy day as well.

steve hoog
st louis
tuba, bass, washboard, assorted inanities