Special Projects
Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra
"Step With Pep: The Ragtime and Dance Music of Mel. B. Kaufman” performed by the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, Andrew Greene, Director was in consideration for a GRAMMY nomination.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project; we appreciate your ongoing support.
Scroll below to learn more about the music of Mel. B. Kaufman, the CD, The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, and to see photos of the Levitt Pavilion concert and CD launch event.
To listen to samples and purchase the CD, click HERE.
The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra is “the premier American ragtime ensemble” as hailed by the Washington Post, and is rapidly becoming the leading professional ragtime orchestra in the United States. Formed by young virtuoso Andrew Greene at the University of Maryland in 2010, the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra recreates the syncopated stylings of a bygone era – Ragtime, Theater, and Dance music, along with underscoring classic silent films using the original orchestral scores of the late 1800s and early 1900s, by composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, W.C. Handy, Victor Herbert, George M. Cohan, and of course, the King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin.
”One of the best ragtime orchestras
I think you'll hear."
- Rob Bamberger, Host,
Hot Jazz Saturday Night (88.5 WAMU)
Mr. Greene and the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra are available for:
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Live Performances
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Recording Projects
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Research Projects
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Lecture/Demonstrations
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Mr. Greene is also available for conducting engagements and piano concerts.
For further info. or booking, please contact Andrew Greene at agreene@peacherineragtime.com or call
(443) 694-4116
Congrats to The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, and conductor Andrew Greene, on their second appearance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The orchestra accompanied two screenings of two Harold Lloyd silent films: "Get Out and Get Under" 1920 and "Never Weaken" 1921.
"Step With Pep" CD Release Party
The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra
Directed by Andrew Greene
Celebrates 100 Years of The Ragtime and Dance Music
of
Composer Mel. B. Kaufman
Old School Music has joined in partnership with The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra's Director, Andrew Greene in helping to resurrect and preserve the Ragtime era music of composer Mel. B. Kaufman. Mr. Greene recently completed an internship with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington DC, under Dr. John Edward Hasse, Curator of American Music. He is researching orchestrated ragtime, silent film accompaniment, and the life and music of composer Mel. B. Kaufman (1879-1932), the “King of the One Step.”
“Congratulations on the new CD “Step with Pep”, a class act! This a major accomplishment... I'll bet your grandfather's spirit is popping his buttons with pride. Here's wishing the CD much success and longevity. “Squidulum” was a total surprise--what a gas!” - Dr. John Edward Hasse, Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
Read more on the re-discovery of Mel. B. Kaufman’s music in this article by Dan Woog for the Westport News: Woog’s World: A Westporter discovers ragtome roots.
Old School Music Productions Founder Roger Kaufman on WPKN FM’s “Sometimes Classical” with Richard Epstein. January 10, 2018. The discussion covers, Ragtime composer Mel B. Kaufman, The Smithsonian's Memphis Music and Modern Music collections. Steve Cropper, Stax Records and the many contributions Westport CT's, Sally White made to music lovers.
“Step With Pep: The Ragtime and Dance Music of Mel B. Kaufman”
Performed by the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra
is available for purchase. Please click HERE.
Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra performed to an audience of nearly 1,000 and the
“Step With Pep” CD Launch at the
Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, Westport, CT, August, 2015.
Read about the event in three Westport Now Arts & Leisure articles HERE.
Artist Beverly EllEsley with her painting of ragtime composer Mel. B. Kaufman
Old School Music Productions’ Roger Kaufman, grandson of ragtime composer Mel. B. Kauffman
Jim and Roger Kaufman, grandsons of ragtime composer Mel. B. Kaufman with Peacherine conductor Andrew Greene prior to the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts concert & CD launch, Westport, CT, August, 2015
“Step With Pep: The Ragtime and Dance Music of Mel B. Kaufman”
Performed by the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra
is available for purchase. Please click HERE.
Photo credit: JTG Photography