Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival returns this week
World-renowned ragtime musicians again will deliver spectacular rhythms and outstanding showmanship during Mississippi State's seventh annual Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival.
Taking place on the university campus March 22-23, the major spring event includes evening concerts in the McComas Hall Auditorium, along with daytime sessions and tours at the Templeton Music Museum in Mitchell Memorial Library.
To view the performance schedule and purchase tickets for the individual programs -- or the entire festival -- visit https://library.msstate.edu/ragtime/festival/tkts/index.html.
All returning artists, the 2013 five featured performers include:
-- Jeff Barnhart. A highly regarded pianist, vocalist, arranger, band leader, recording artist, composer, teacher and entertainer, he appears regularly as a soloist and band pianist for international parties, festivals, clubs and cruises. When not performing, Barnhart has recorded as both a pianist and vocalist on more than 75 full-length albums.
-- Frederick Hodges. Considered by many to be among the world's best ragtime pianists, he consistently is requested by leading orchestras, festivals, conductors and collaborative musicians. A classically trained concert pianist, Hodges has established a reputation as a versatile artist who can perform as a soloist, singer, dance band pianist and silent film accompanist, among other venues.
-- Brian Holland. A ragtime, jazz and stride pianist for almost 30 years, he is a classically trained and Grammy Award-nominated performer with a keen ear for improvisation. With a driving style described as "clear as Waterford crystal," the three-time World Old-Time Piano Playing Champion now serves as a judge for the competition. Most recently, Holland has been featured with performances in the African nation of Rwanda and a subsequent recording project on the Mohawk Productions label.
-- David Jasen. One of the most highly regarded authorities on ragtime music, Jasen is a collector of books, recordings, piano rolls, periodicals, catalogs and sheet music covering the gamut of American popular music. An adviser to the Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival since its inception, Jasen brings an extraordinary knowledge of ragtime and history, enriching the festival experience and providing a dimension rarely seen in other such events.
-- Carl Sonny Leyland. After discovering boogie-woogie at age 15, he was inspired to go to the piano and begin on a path that became his life's purpose. Whether solo or with the Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, his play typically involves a spontaneity that provides many happy surprises.
In addition to the MSU Libraries and Templeton Music Museum, the festival is sponsored by the Starkville Area Arts Council, Rotary Club of Starkville and Greater Starkville Development Partnership. Additional sponsorships also are provided, in part, by the Mississippi Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts.
For additional ticket and schedule information, contact planning committee member Lynda Graham at 662-325-6634 or lgraham@library.msstate.edu.
Margaret Kovar | University Relations
