Ragtime did not originate with the musical score for the film "The Sting" but the immediate and universal appeal and popularity of the theme tune "The Entertainer" are measures of the attraction of this syncopated form of music. Ragtime has similar roots to jazz as popular Negro music, and it was being developed into a discernable form about the same time as New Orleans funeral and parade jazz. Ever since there has been a continuing combination of ragtime and jazz as demonstrated on this superb CD.The first 10 tracks of the CD are from the original "Elite Syncopations" LP by Chris Barber and his Jazzband in 1960, with the final 4 tracks added by Lake Records to make up playing time to some 52 minutes. Every minute is "5-Star" entertainment with the final 4 tracks blending into easy listening with the original set of recordings. Chris Barber's bands have long been associated with rags and cakewalks, and indeed one of the numbers "St. George's Rag" was composed by Chris Barber early in his jazz career in 1954. All other numbers are from the heyday of ragtime with the earliest "Georgia Cakewalk" composed in 1897, and most from ragtime's most popular period up to the 1920s. "The Entertainer" is only one of 4 Scott Joplin compositions on the CD including the superb title track "Elite Syncopations".
Chris Barber's bands are renowned for their excellent performances, but on this CD perfection is more exactingly sought (and achieved) than normal. This is partly due to the need for faultless syncopation where there is shifting beat emphasis and combination of instruments so that the music notes coincide with one in another; and also to the method of recording where for example a multi-track technique was adopted by Chris Barber to impose 3 or 4 trombones - this has produced my favourite tracks on the CD as "Bohemia Rag", "Cole Smoak" and "Reindeer Ragtime Two Step".
The 10 original tracks resulted from when Chris Barber visited New Orleans in 1959 and "found" a collection of ragtime sheet-music. All are masterpieces. The 4 additional tracks are from Chris Barber's repertoire of the 1950s being the authentic ragtime "Triller Rag", and the frequently played dance number "Whistling Rufus", together with lively numbers to finish as "Tuxedo Rag" and the New Orleans Rhythm King's famous "Bugle Call Rag".
This is a superb "5-Star" CD.
