RAGTIME, STRIDE PIANO AND ALL THAT JAZZ COMES TO MIDCOAST MAINE!

At the turn of the 20th Century, the “pop” music of the day in America was a syncopated rhythm called “Ragtime”. Championed by the “King of Ragtime” himself Scott Joplin, this craze took the nation by storm from 1899 with the publication of his “Maple Leaf Rag”, until his death in 1917. “Contrary to popular belief,” says Maine musicologist, Aaron Robinson, “Ragtime was music that people danced to - not just played on the piano.” Before long, however, a new style of music started playing in those dance halls called “Jazz”. Syncopation was out and swing was in. 

Forgotten for nearly 50 years, it wasn’t until a young Manhattan songwriter by the name of Marvin Hamlisch reintroduced the music to America by way of the silver screen with a film called “The Sting” starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Robinson, explains: “Instead of composing original music for the movie, Hamlisch realized there was all this wonderful music already written that was just waiting to be heard.” A Ragtime Revival took place in 70s America with Scott Joplin being awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously and records of his music winning the Grammy award. 

Composers and pianists from all over were playing and even writing new ragtime. One of them in particular was Maine’s own Glenn Jenks of Camden, Maine. Having moved to Maine in 1972, Jenks began playing local pubs around the Midcoast Maine area before becoming a staple performer at Ragtime Festivals and Vaudeville Revivals across the US. Starting his own Harvest Ragtime Revue in Camden, Maine that ran annually for 11 seasons, Jenks composed nearly 40 rags for piano from 1972 until his untimely death in 2016. 

Today, his legacy lives on with the Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue and “Future in Music” prize presented annually through the Bay Chamber “Young Stars of Maine” program. Along with the publication:  “The Complete Works for Ragtime Piano by Glenn Jenks”, a compilation folio consisting of 36 ragtime works by Jenks. Each of these tributes and projects have been accomplished by long-time friend and colleague of Jenks: award-winning Maine composer, conductor and best-selling author Aaron Robinson, who also serves as Artistic Director of the Ragtime Revue. 

Having premiered the Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue in 2019 in honor of his friend, Robinson formed a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that presents an event annually which brings top ragtime performers from around the world to the Midcoast area of Maine each October. All proceeds benefit a scholarship that is awarded to young musicians in Maine who wish to further their education in the field of music. Four scholarships have been awarded to date. “Glenn’s mission in life was to teach.” Robinson said, “He was a true mentor to so many during his lifetime.” 

This year’s Ragtime Revue features three-time world champion, Grammy nominated Jazz-Ragtime pianist Brian Holland and Grammy winning drummer Danny Coots. The duo has been performing together at ragtime festivals and in-concert all over the world for decades. “I’ve been trying to book these guys since the beginning of the Revue.” Robinson said, “They are so in demand. I had to contract them two years out just to get them up here to Maine!” Coots has performed in Maine over the years; centered mainly in and around Bar Harbor. “My brother went to the College of the Atlantic back in the 70s,” says Coots, “and he arranged for the Dixieland band I played in (made up of mostly professors from Saint Lawrence Academy) to play at the college.” Coots’s brother Doug, an architect out of Boston has semi-retired and currently lives on Deer Isle, Maine. 

Also on the program is archival ragtime pianist Corte Swearingen; who recently released volume one of “The Complete Works for Ragtime Piano by Glenn Jenks”. Swearingen will perform 4-hand piano duets with host Robinson of rags by Jenks. “This is my first time performing in Maine,” Swearingen states. “I've never met any of Jenks' family or friends so I'm very much looking forward to the experience. Music truly is the universal language, and the fact that we can all come together to honor an American original like Glenn Jenks is inspiring!”

Appearing as special guests are the song-and-dance duo of Jones & Boyce. Susan Boyce and Brian Jones have been a team since 1979 as part of the “New Vaudeville” movement during the ragtime revival. “We toured with the New England New Vaudeville Revue - Benny and Denise Reehl’s indefatigable troupe - and met Glenn Jenks thanks to them.” Jones & Boyce remembers, “He was a wonderful accompanist, and we appeared with him at many Ragtime Festivals and variety venues over the years.” Susan Boyce performed with Jenks at his Harvest Ragtime Revue at the Camden Opera House from 1989 until 2000. Boyce will receive the 2024 Glenn Jenks Ragtime Emeritus Award. She is joined by previous winners: ragtime pianist Sue Keller and Scott Joplin biographer Edward A. Berlin. “It’s a privilege to perform in his memory,” says Jones & Boyce, “and we are looking forward to singing and dancing our hearts out in tribute to Glenn.”

Ragtime author Larry Melton will receive the 2024 Glenn Jenks Lifetime Achievement award. This year’s recipients of the Glenn Jenks “Future in Music” award is Michael Bostock from Falmouth; who is studying music abroad at the Royal Northern College of Music. 

The Ragtime Revue will take place on Saturday, October 12th at 7:30PM at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor - 125 Townsend Ave. Boothbay Harbor. 

General Admission at the door or call for reservations: #207-882-6335. 

The Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All proceeds benefit the Glenn Jenks musical scholarship.