Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Music

The title of the CD indicates that these are recordings made by such greats as James Reese Europe--they are actually rather bland modern re-recordings. Look for the originals--they do exist--and bypass this flat second-generation rehashing.

This CD captures all the energy and optimism of the early Harlem Renaissance...you'll think you've been transported back in time.

Ragtime music is probably most familiar to people through two contemporary movies: The Sting, which brought Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" to public awareness, and Ragtime, with a score by Randy Newman. In my opinion, Newman's score pales in comparison with these originals. The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra faithfully interprets original orchestral scores of composers like James Reese Europe and Will Marion Cook so if, like me, you're used to hearing this music on scratchy old mono recordings, you're in for a real treat.

It's easy to see why this music took the country by storm at the turn of the century...I played this CD three times the first night I got it, because it captivated me. There's not a song here I don't like and there's such a good mixture of styles that it doesn't become repetitive.

As with all releases from New World Records, this one includes a booklet packed with historical and biographical information. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Curator, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

Yes, why is it so difficult to find this outstanding record when I look under Paragon Ragtime Orchestra"... it's another gem of those 1900-maniacs! Well, SPECIALISTS sounds maybe a little more polite. And I love those extensive liner notes: we get lots of entertainment and information at the same time! All of a sudden, the efforts of today's popular musicians to mess around with heavy and sempre out-of-balance P.A. equipment seem so useless... hahaha!

I guess we'll never really know exactly how much and what kind of groove this music "should" have. Early recorded information (piano rolls, acoustic discs) creates an ambiguous impression. It seems really obvious that it shouldn't "swing" like Jazz. But it also seems obvious that its "Afro-American-ness" is situated somewhere within its rhythmic and gestural language. Finding out exactly where - there's the challenge. And Paragon Ragtime Orchestra doesn't exactly rise to it. Beautifully played - but stiff. Not the stiffest I've heard, but stiff enough. The CD gives us a real picture of this pioneer of that region where Ragtime met Show Business. He's definitely not one of the true greats, but if you're interested in the genre you should hear this. I think it's always good to have a clearer picture of what a musical milieu was really like. Otherwise one might imagine a musical world where there was no transition between Joplin and Euday L. Bowman. Joe Jordan was somewhere in the middle. My favorite track is "Dat's Ma Honey Sho's Yo' Born". To call it "dated" would be an understatement. But in the middle of its forced bonhomie, there is something truly touching. Jordan seems to have lived a basically happy and productive life, always somewhat in the margins. This CD allows us to live in that lost world, if only in a very refracted way. I would suggest, however, that if you the listener want a clearer picture of what this music really sounded like in its day, you must pick up all those James Reese Europe, Bert Williams and Wilbur Sweatman reissues that we are fortunate to now have out. They're not exactly Ragtime, but you can hear those little elements of pre-Jazz wildness that were in the performance style of the time. These performances here are perhaps, to put it nicely, a little too textually based.

I own several PRO albums. They are a class act in every way. But this album does not hold up to the high standard of repertoire as the other albums. All the material (except one) is a single composer. There are 2 interviews with Joe Jordan. If you're not a historian of American music you likely won't find this album to be as musically engaging as the other PRO offerings. Along a similar theme is the Clef Club album but with a wide selection of composers. Buy that one before you buy this one. Just gotta say that PRO is a musical treasure and their music has provided immense enjoyment to me, my family and friends. I will continue collecting PRO albums until I have them all.

This is the most enjoyable c-d on ragtime that I have ever had. It is WONDERFUL. There are no words to describe the enjoyment that i have had listening to this c-d,

From first to last, this is the best cd of ragtime played by people who know ragtime. Unfortunately, the tunes continue to play in my head for hours after.

It's difficult to explain the feeling one gets when they first listen to that perfect period recording. It's a split between true happiness, excitment, and subtle comfort, the feeling as if you have been propelled into the past, the feeling as if you can see what has long been forgotten, just by closing your eyes. It's pretty difficult for an orchestra to achieve this, but I think it is safe to say that the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra or 'PRO' does.

The PRO embodies the essence of the era in which it's music (a colaboration of marches, rags, cakewalks, one steps, waltzs, and so on) came from. All of the music preformed was written for ragtime orchestra (including Pine Apple Rag, for all of you Scott Joplin fans out there) and are part of the Arthur Pryor music collection that was recently rediscovered in Atlantic City by the founder of the orchestra, Rick Benjamin.(Arthur Pryor was a member of the Sousa band, and the conductor of his own orchestra at the turn-of-the-century)

Utilizing superb training, enthusiastic sound, and chamber orchestra polish, the PRO succeeds in bringing a long forgotten musical genre back into light. And rest asured this is not a Dixieland recording, this is not a brashy, low class, bordello band. It is what can only be described as the band that would perform in the park every Sunday after church, at a high class social event, or the departure of the latest luxury liner. It is the embodiment of an era that will never come again, but is still firmly implanted in our memories.

I strongly recommend Knockout Drops to any music fan who is looking for an extraordinary ragtime recording that dosen't have a hint of piano in it. This also goes for the orchestras other recordings (That Demon Rag!, The Whistler and His Dog, and On the Boardwalk) and their video (Charlie Chaplin Moving Picture Show).

This is a great album for anyone who like ragtime music. For people who have seen the 2004 film The Deserter by Eric B. Borgman and wondered where you could find the music, some of these exact tunes can be heard in it! Borgman cut a deal with Rick Benjamin and used several tunes from this CD and That Demon Rag!

This CD is highly recommended by me I truly believe that this is the best ragtime orchestra going on the planet!

Jody Dall'Armi has an incredible voice. She sings in perfect balance with the orchestra. The arrangements are beautifuly done. The songs are fun and this recording evokes a simpler time. Wonderful. Just wonderful

This is a special recording. It contains a number of wonderful, familiar ragtime classics, but it also has a number of rarely recorded gems. Jody's voice is incredible. She blends beautifully with the orchestra. This is a must-have recording for any lover of ragtime music! You'll want to play it all of the time because it is just so much fun to listen to!

A splendid singing performance by Jody Dall'Armi, showing that some singers ARE capable of a convincing performance of those old songs, combined with the flawless and well-balanced backing by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, in great shape - again! Listen to this, and THEN go, watch and listen to a today's popular singer with his microphone, ever out-of-balance P.A., and, oh yes, his band (if there is one...)

A beautiful soprano voice, great backup singing and orchestration...if you love ragtime and old fashioned songs, you'll love this one!

A delightful recording. Beautiful singing, great arrangements. The recording includes a 20-page song book with all the lyrics. There are a number of familiar songs like "Shine On, Harvest Moon." But there are quite a few rarely heard or recorded gems like "On the Level, You're a Little Devil." This is a must have CD.

Excellent Recording. Sound quality if perfect. Any student of early American popular music would be interested in this recording.

This is a great album for anyone who likes ragtime music. For people who have seen the 2004 film The Deserter by Eric B. Borgman and wondered where you could find the music, some of the exact tunes in the film can be heard on this CD!

Borgman cut a deal with Rick Benjamin and used several tunes from this CD and the Knockout Drops CD.

I highly recommended this CD and truly believe that this is the best ragtime orchestra going on the planet!

"THAT DEMON RAG" is still in print and available on the Popular Music side of Amazon.com. Search for it under in Popular Music under the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra or using the ASIN number B00004Y6CB.

This CD was originally produced and released by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra's own label, and was later licensed for a short time to the Dorian label (with the cover shown above). The Orchestra chose not to renew Dorian's contract allowing them to continue selling this recording, and is again marketing it under its own label. So you can still buy it brand new if you want it.

This is not the first Richard Benjamin album of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra I have owned, nor will it be the last. It may well be the best, however. The music is infectious, happy, and extremely well executed. This is one of the few albums I can put on and repeat over and over again. The musicianship is superb, the arrangements authentic to the early days of the 20th Century, and the selection is outstanding. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes this era of music, you will love this album.

This hour long CD is wonder, it authentically captures the ragtime-era period of music so well. The band is The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, and they play the music from the Arthur Pryor Orchestra. The band has done extensive research and plays period instruments. The liner notes in this groups CD's are fascinating.

The music is so good and authentic that since 1989 a number of the actual recorded tracks on this CD are heard in the extensive background music loop as you stroll through the themed "Main Street USA" at Disney Land, Disney World, and Euro Disney; Even more Disneyland tracks (8 to be exact)are on another CD from the group titled, "The Whistler And His Dog". According to their own website, they are "the only professional organization performing ragtime-era music: vaudeville hits, silent movie accompaniments and dance-hall favorites".

I reccommend you track these down, we use them on weekends especially in the morning, very upbeat music at home. If you are a Disneyland fan, they also help relive your memories of the park. The recording was made in 1987, for the Newport Classic Label and it is a whopping 60 minutes in length, definitely your money's worth.