Monthly Archives: May 2024

THE JUMPIN’ JIVE
(The KSO Excavates the Roots of America’s Popular Music)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU, Highland Heights, KY

America’s popular music we know today began to sprout in the late 1890s with the advent of Ragtime. African-American spirituals were the bedrock of a musical evolution that quickly followed with blues, Dixieland, stride, and early jazz, which would lead to swing and big band era.

Following WWII, jazz went in various directions (Be-Bop, modern, third-stream). Rock developed out of Country, and R&B lead to Soul and Funk, which later fused with rock in the 1970s, while adding electronic instruments. This evolution of popular music continues to this day, though with less form and structure.

The KSO developed its 9-piece Newport Ragtime Band in 1996 to authentically explore the beginnings of America’s popular musical heritage. Music director James Cassidy contacted Gunther Schuller to purchase arrangements written for his New England Ragtime Band, which flourished during the Ragtime revival initiated by the 1973 hit film The Sting. From there the Newport Ragtime Band evolved, adding new musicians and vocalists Kathy Wade and Deondra Means together with new arrangements (faithful to the originals) by local arrangers Scot Woolley and Terry LaBolt. This group also offers annual free school concerts in February for Black History Month.

To close out the KSO’s 32nd Season, the KSO’s Newport Ragtime Band surveys music by black artists/composers from 1898-1934, including Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, Jelly Roll Morton, Lil’ Hardin Armstrong, Eubie Blake, James Europe, Cab Calloway and many more. Cincinnati’s own contribution to this music’s history will be heard via tunes of Artie Matthews and Fats Waller (See full program attached). Patrons are encouraged to come ready to clap and sing along to familiar up-beat music rarely performed live today. This three-decade musical journey is guaranteed to leave the audience singing and smiling, while adding a lilt to their step.

Join Kathy Wade, Deondra Means and the KSO’s Newport Ragtime Band 7:30 Saturday, May 11 at Greaves Concert Hall, NKU, Highland Heights, KY. For additional info and tickets — kyso.org or call (859) 431- 6216.

THE JUMPIN’ JIVE
(The KSO Excavates the Roots of America’s Popular Music)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU, Highland Heights, KY

The Newport Ragtime Band
James R. Cassidy, leader
Kathy Wade, vocal
Deondra Means, vocal

Program

• Traditional – “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”*
• Traditional – Spiritual Medley †
  • “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child”
  • “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”
  • “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
• Scott Joplin – “Maple Leaf Rag”‡
• W.C. Handy – “St. Louis Blues”*
• Clarence Muse – “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South”*
• Euday Bowman – “12th Street Rag”*
• Shelton Brooks – “Darktown Strutters Ball”*
• James R. Europe – “Castle Walk”‡
• Lil Hardin Armstrong – “Struttin’ with some Barbeque”
• Cab Calloway – “Minnie the Moocher”*

Intermission

• Eubie Blake – “Charleston Rag”‡
• Jimmie Cox “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out”†
• James P. Johnson “The Charleston”*
• Joe Primrose “St. James Infirmary”*
• Jelly Roll Morton “Black Bottom Stomp”‡
• Artie Matthews “Weary Blues”*
• Fats Waller Fats Waller Medley*
  • “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
  • “Honeysuckle Rose”
  • “Yo’ Feet’s Too Big”
  • “The Joint is Jumpin’”
• Cab Calloway “Hep, Hep — The Jumpin’ Jive”†
• Traditional ‘When the Saints Go Marching In”*

Arranged / Adapted by:
*Scot Woolley
†Terry LaBolt
‡Gunther Schuller

Kathy Wade
Kathy Wade, two-time regional EMMY award-winning producer, international jazz singer, actress, author, creator, co-founder and CEO of Learning Through Art, Inc., celebrating 32 years of building community through art, presenting to over 1,100,000 participants. Kathy holds a BA, Xavier University and MA, the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati where she was awarded the 2024 UC Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Distinguished Alumni Award. Opening for everyone from Eartha Kitt, Whitney Houston to David Sanborn, performing on stages around the world, including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, Beehive and Crowns, Kathy is twice voted Best Singer by Cincinnati Magazine in addition to numerous civic, artistic and social awards. Kathy made her debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at Crown Jewels of Jazz® 2021. Kathy, the mother of an adult daughter, firmly believes the artist must give back what they have taken out of the community. By building community through art, Kathy works hard to give back today.

Deondra Kamau Means
Deondra Means was born and raised in Cincinnati and discovered his love for the arts through music at church and at Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts. A graduate of Webster University (St. Louis), Deondra is a master storyteller and spent 2 decades as resident playwright and performer with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. He offers 30 years of experience as an actor, singer and director performing with the KSO, CSO, the Hues Corporation and several local and regional theaters. Deondra has always been interested in arts integration and arts expression, helping to develop social skills and self-esteem in children and in highlighting social justice issues – which recently lead him to take over community engagement efforts and artist residency with the American Legacy Theatre