BACKGROUND

Peabody Ragtime Ensemble, an acoustic Baltimore-based septet, is a “little big band,” that was founded in 1974 as an informal student group at the Peabody Conservatory of Music when Ragtime was the rage. Since then, the Ensemble has evolved into a professional jazz ensemble dedicated to preserving America’s historic Jazz tradition through performance of the vintage repertoire in concert, party and dance settings. Today, under the direction of Ed Goldstein, Peabody Ragtime Ensemble has performed over 4500 engagements (including more than 1650 school concerts during a 28-year partnership with Young Audiences of Maryland, Inc.) in its 34-year existence.

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Photo credit: AlexanderMorozov.com

IN CONCERT WITH…

    Hal Linden

    Preservation Hall Jazz Band

     Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

    Phyllis Diller

    Louie Bellson

    Eldar

    Artie Shaw Orchestra

PERFORMED FOR/OPENED FOR…

    Eubie Blake

    Alberta Hunter

    Gunther Schuller

     Aaron Copland

    The Smothers Brothers

     Roberta Flack

HONORS

  1. • Governor's Citation, recognizing 25 years of musical service to the State of Maryland

  2. • "Baltimore's Best"—Baltimore Magazine: Jazz Band; Dixieland Band; Wedding Music;

    Party Music

  1. • "WAMMY" Award for Best Dixieland Band by the Washington Area Music Association

  2. • Maryland Music Educators Award for Distinguished Service

  3. • Winners of the Baltimore City Jazz Quest Competition

  4. • Performed in concert with Baltimore's legendary Eubie Blake


REPERTOIRE:  A program of All-American music from 1880 to the 1950s…

  1. • Ragtime - Compositions of Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake and their  contemporaries

  2. • Dixieland - New Orleans-style improvisation and foot-stomping choruses

  3. • Big Band and Swing - Lush arrangements celebrating the superstars of Jazz 

  4. • Novelties, Ethnic, Latin, etc. - Vocals, standards, special requests, show  tunes


TOURING

  1. • Concert tour of the Soviet Union, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute

  2. • Featured artists at the 7th Annual Copenhagen Jazz Festival

  3. • Annual New England tour for nine consecutive years

RECORDINGS

•Ragtime, Dixieland and All That Jazz

•Ragtime Band, featuring the music of Scott Joplin and Eubie Blake

•Tiger By The Tail

•Live At The Homecoming


INSTRUMENTATION

Instrumentation for the Ensemble features: Flute, Piccolo, and Tenor Sax; Clarinet doubling on Soprano and Alto Sax; Trumpet and Cornet; Trombone; Tuba; Piano; Percussion; and Vocals.