The Parlour Social @ Smith's - 'When Jazz Was Ragtime'

The Parlour Social are a Canberra outfit, bringing you the toe-tapping rhythm of the Ragtime era back to life. Today they call it Trad, New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland, Swing or PRE-Bop but then they called it Ragtime.

This was a time when the exciting and exultant folk music of the former black slaves was beginning to take American culture by storm. It was trashy pop, threatening and inciteful - it was the devils music. The incessant syncopation was corrupting the principles of youths and the transparent harmonies were dulling the minds of the new generation. The style was nurtured within brothels, burlesques houses and parlours with honkytonk piano players provided the sordid soundtrack for the worst bars in the dodgy end of town. Mothers disowned their children for joining the jazzbands as it would surely lead to wickedness and vice.

The music was full of joy because life was full of shit. This was Jazz to sing to, drink, fight, fuck to. This is Jazz to dance to.

'The Parlour Social' will grace you with the favourites of the era, featuring the old Dixieland bands stomps and steps; music of entertainers like Fats Waller; the Ragtime Masters - Joplin, Lamb and Scott; as well as a pat-on-the-back to the great Tin Pan Alley songsmiths and those who furnished the many pages of the American Songbook. Add to that a splattering of songs from today that you were too embarassed to admit you always wanted to hear in Ragtime. You're welcome.

The Parlour Social is:

Bensen, Tim - trp

Manly, Thomas - clr

Hart, Josh - trb

Salem, Jamal - dr

Mann, Robbie - pno