Kentucky's Newport Ragtime Band from the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra returns for two live shows on August 2-3.
In the late 1890s to the 1930s, pop music underwent a significant transformation, shaped by technological advancements, cultural fads, and historic milestones. This era, marked by the rise of ragtime and the dominance of jazz, set the foundation for America's popular music heritage.
Fast forward to the present day, and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra (KSO) is set to take audiences on a journey through time with their Newport Ragtime Band (NRB). The ensemble will perform at Devou Park, Covington, on Saturday, August 2, at 7:30 p.m., and Tower Park, Fort Thomas, on Sunday, August 3, at 7:30 p.m.
KSO arrangers Scot Woolley and Terry LaBolt have meticulously crafted specific charts to capture the various new styles and genres developed and performed across the U.S. and Cincinnati during that golden age. The NRB, featuring vocalists Deondra Means and Tangie Wyatt, will perform an authentic mix of tunes, including "His Eye is on the Sparrow," "St. Louis Blues," "The Entertainer," "The Queen Rag," "Darktown Strutters Ball," and "Minnie the Moocher," among others.
The NRB was originally a 13-piece ensemble, but it has been scaled down to its current 9-piece ensemble to mirror the 1920s instrumentation of the King Oliver Band. The performance aims to have audiences toe-tapping, clapping, and singing along with American classics from more than a century ago.
The KSO's Newport Ragtime Band was formed in 1996, with arrangements from the 1970s purchased from composer/musician Gunther Schuller. The NRB's performance will trace the formation of the blues, ragtime, Dixieland, and early jazz by composer/musicians who set the stage for Swing, Big Band, R&B, Rock & Roll, and popular styles to come.
Concessions and food trucks will be available during both performances, and picnics or lawn chairs are recommended. For those wishing to avoid parking, the TANK park & ride shuttle from Covington Catholic will be available, departing on the half hour starting at 6 p.m. for the Devou Park performance ($1 each way).
The NRB's performance was inspired by the revival of Ragtime music after its use in the 1973 hit movie The Sting. The inspiration for the iconic character "everyone's favorite flapper," Betty Boop, also came from the music of this era.
For more information, registration (for weather updates), and directions, visit the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra's website at www.kyso.org. A $5 per person donation to the KSO is suggested for the performances, though the concert and parking are free.
Join the KSO and the Newport Ragtime Band for an unforgettable musical journey through the golden age of pop music.
- The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra (KSO) will take audiences on a journey through time with their Newport Ragtime Band (NRB) at Devou Park, Covington, on August 2, and Tower Park, Fort Thomas, on August 3.
- The NRB will perform an authentic mix of tunes, including "The Entertainer," "The Queen Rag," and "Minnie the Moocher," among others, capturing the various new styles and genres developed during the golden age of pop music.
- Concessions and food trucks will be available during both performances, and picnics or lawn chairs are recommended. TANK park & ride shuttle from Covington Catholic will also be available for those wishing to avoid parking.
- The NRB's performance is inspired by the revival of Ragtime music after its use in the 1973 hit movie The Sting, and the inspiration for the iconic character "everyone's favorite flapper," Betty Boop, also came from the music of this era.
