In Search of Sherlock Holmes
and all that Jazz II !
(further continued)

And, Speaking of Ragtime, How about Indianapolis!?

We actually had reservations to attend the famous Ragtime Festival in
Sedalia, MO, but had to cancel at the last minute
HOWEVER,
our appetite for ragtime was more than fed by
The Classical Ragtime Festival in our neighboring city of Indianapolis!

 
Josi Beeler introduces the 2002 Indianapolis Classic Ragtime Society concert on August 16. Folks interested in communicating with The Society are invited to contact Josi at 4738 Stratford Ave, Indianapolis, IN 45201 or email her at <josibee@juno.com>

 

In addition to The Grand Ballroom at Indianapolis' Holiday Inn East, the festival treated ragtime fans at two other venues. One of these was Indianapolis' fabulous Indiana Historical Society.
Leading from The Stardust Room to the meeting rooms and auditorium upstairs, there is the Stardust Staircase. Upon the risers of each step is a line from the first verse of Hoagy Carmichael's immortal "Stardust." For millions of couples romancing in the 1940s, "Stardust" was "their song."
Here's part of the Hoagy Carmichael display at The Historical Society. A life-size image of Hoagy is seen in the background. The orange poster on the wall is an enlargement of the sheet music for "Two Sleepy People." The picture is of Bob Hope who sang the song on the screen. Do you know who the female star was who sang the duet with him?

 

Tony Caramia, Professor of Piano at the Eastman School of Music, honored the audience with a most informative and entertaining Powerpoint presentation
on British composer, Billy Mayerl.
As a further indication of the catholicity of interests among Sherlockians, guess who we spotted in the audience at Professor Caramia's presentation? Tom and Cathy Huenefeld, who are Sherlockians and members of our own hometown Tankerville Club.


Professor Tony Caramia performs. He has been quoted as saying, "I find ragtime charming, vibrant and full of joy! It's not Beethoven, but why should it be? After all, not all classical music is Beethoven."
Brian Keenan takes his turn at the keyboard. Brian is a very talented composer from Minnesota who plays not only classical ragtime, but also his own numerous compositions.
This is "The First Lady of Ragtime," Mimi Blais from Montreal. Her performances of ragtime (or jazz, or blues, or whatever) always has the audience "rolling in the aisles." She is a real "show stopper."
Rosie Lemkin and Paul Trageser offered dazzling demonstrations of classical ballroom dancing. They even provided instruction good enough to help out folks with "two left feet" (such as we!)

 

 

And the Grand Finale!
A climax to climax many climaxes (climaces?)!! Everybody performs! Mimi Blais and Brian Keenan ring the best the Steinway has to offer while Professor Tony Carmaia and Terry Parrish exhibit their talents on another Steinway (can't see them here - they are on the other side of the band) simultaneously. AND, if that wasn't enough to drive the audience wild, they were joined by Terry Parrish's exceptional regtime group "The Elite Syncopators" AND the Warren Central High School (which was the venue for this grand finale) great theater organ! A peerless musical happening!!
If you are interested in ragtime performed by its most elegant practitioners, we do urge you to contact Josi for information about next year's Festival!

So, we are seeking interest from folks who think they might like to join other Sherlock Holmes Jazz fans for a "Sherlock Holmes and all that Jazz - II" gathering. We have no definite plans at present because it all depends on how many Sherlockians want to participate, but it if SHAATJ-II happens it will be somewhere in the eastern US in the summer of 2003. If you feel you might be interested, at least in being kept informed, just e-mail us, give us your name, address and your edress - we will keep you informed!

 

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