Copyright © 2018 John F. Oyler
November 22, 2018
The Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra
The Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall is a major cultural asset in this local area, regularly offering a wide variety of outstanding entertainment and historical programs. It was my privilege recently to attend one that combined both genres.
In commemoration of the Centennial of the Armistice that ended World War I, the Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra presented a program of World War I era music, largely focusing on compositions by James Reese Europe.
Born in 1880 in Mobile, Alabama, Europe was “the leading figure on the African-American music scene of New York City in the 1910s”. His Clef Club Orchestra made history with the first “proto-jazz” concert at Carnegie Hall in 1912. His orchestra opened that concert with “The Clef Club March”; in tribute, it was also the Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra’s opening selection in the concert I attended.
Europe and his Society Orchestra performed regularly with the popular dance team Irene and Vernon Castle during the years when they were introducing the Turkey Trot, the Grizzly Bear, and, finally, the Foxtrot.
The Ragtime Orchestra played a number of songs that Europe composed for the Castles, including “The Castle Walk”, “Castle’s Lame Duck”, and “The Castle House Rag”. All told, they performed fifteen different selections, including a medley from the 1921 Broadway show “Shuffle Along” with music and lyrics by two of Europe’s colleagues, Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle.
When the United States entered World War I, Europe and Sissle enlisted in the 369thInfantry Regiment, the first African-American unit to go to France. The 369thserved as an integral unit in the French Army and is credited with seeing the most days of combat (191) and suffering the most casualties (1500) of any American regiment.
Europe was director of the 369thRegimental Marching Band; Sissle, its bandmaster and vocalist. They are credited with introducing ragtime music to Europe, as well as serving as outstanding morale boosters. Unfortunately, Europe’s career was short in 1919 when he was killed by a percussionist in his orchestra.
The Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra was created by Tom Roberts in 2012 to preserve the heritage of ragtime composers and musicians in the Pittsburgh area. This was my first opportunity to hear them in person; it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Tom Roberts is a remarkably versatile musician, whom we have seen in a wide variety of roles. To begin with, he is a world-class performer of early jazz piano, with special emphasis on the Harlem stride piano style. He has been an integral part of Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, toured as musical director for Leon Redbone , and appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” and “A Prairie Home Companion”.
His arranging achievements include the soundtrack for the Martin Scorsese film “The Aviator”, for the Jim Cullum Jazz Band on the program “Riverwalk Jazz Live from the Landing”, and for a Louis Armstrong concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
We have also seen him perform original music that he has composed as accompaniment for silent movies, at the Hollywood Theater. One of his specialties is composing music for Charlie Chaplin silent films. His ability to juxtapose elegant music with Chaplin’s slapstick is particularly appealing.
Roberts plays keyboard for a local trio called “Red Beans and Rice”, that specializes in New Orleans Rhythm and Blues and ‘50s Rock. They dress like the Blues Brothers would if they were triplets; I must recuse myself if I am requested to comment on their musicality.
My first exposure to Tom Roberts was at a lecture where the depth of his knowledge of a jazz historian was immediately obvious. I think his subject was Jelly Roll Morton; his presentation brought Morton to life. I was especially impressed with a lecture entitled “The Forgotten History of Pittsburgh Jazz: Pittsburgh in the Roaring Twenties”.
The Ragtime Orchestra included a rhythm section of Roberts on keyboard, Jose Puentes on String Bass, and Joel Martinez on percussion; Maureen Conlon Gutierrez on violin, Elisa Kohanski on cello, Kira Bokalders on clarinet, Julie McGough on flute, Galen McKinney on cornet, and Aaron Pisula on trombone. Each of them came across as an excellent individual musician; together they play superbly in ensemble. A week later when I went to the Pittsburgh Opera production of “Hansel and Gretel”, I was not surprised that three of them were playing in the pit orchestra.
Vocalist Michael Warren was an excellent complement to the orchestra. He sang the World War I hit “How Ya Gonna Keep ‘em down on the Farm (After They’ve Seen Paree)?”, popularized by James Reese Europe’s orchestra in 1919; Europe’s “Goodnight Angeline”; and a medley of Sissle/Blake “Shuffle Along” songs terminating with “I’m Just Wild About Harry”.
This was an evening planned especially for an audience fascinated by music and history, and it was a major success. I eagerly anticipate my next opportunity to hear and see the Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra again.
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