The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra is one of the premiere bands in the esoteric but very accessible idiom of orchestrated ragtime (as opposed to solo pianists). Consisting of a string quartet, two clarinets, two cornets, one trombone, a flutist doubling on piccolo, a bassist and a versatile drummer, this ensemble is directed by its founder Rick Benjamin. Its third recording has quite a variety of mostly obscure music among its 19 pieces including Arthur Pryor's "A Cakewalk Contest," two of Scott Joplin's lesser-known rags, "Ragtime Travesty on 'Il Trovatore"' (which satirizes classical music), Eubie Blake's "Chevy Chase Foxtrot," the "Spirit of Independence" march and a couple of popular numbers. This pre-jazz music (which has no improvisation but plenty of syncopation) is colorfully performed and should greatly interest fans of early American music, jazz and ragtime alike.
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