Ajudging by the group photo on the cover of The Rhythmia's first CD these gents are old hands at playing ragtime and related genres, so there's no doubting or disputing their skill.
What really sets "The Rhythmia" apart from other CDs of this ilk that you may pick up is the liner notes. Band leader Kevin Sanders gives us a bit of background on every song on this debut outing, which is d*mned handy for folks like yours truly (who can't tell a cakewalk from any other old-timey tune and had no idea that "Impecunious Davis" was one until I read the liner note).
The Rhythmia also gets a gold star for including the earliest dated composition on any ragtime disc I've ever been sent: Louis M Gottschalk's "Manchega" circa 1852.
In addition to the wonderful playing and the educational liner notes I love the fact that there are several *NEW* compositions on this CD. Kevin Sanders doesn't just know the history of ragtime & such, he knows how to work with them to create his own pieces. Kudos.
In fact my favorite numbers here is an original piece: "Walking Conga", and I know exactly why I like it: Sanders takes his ragtime trio and then works them through caribbean rhythms to come out with an interesting hybrid that pops with energy.
So if you, the listener, are interested in delving into ragtime and would like a handy-dandy history lesson to come along with the songs then "The Rhythmia" is an exemplary collection for you to pick up. And, if you happen to be Kevin Sanders, I encourage you to keep exploring and melding in new sounds to ragtime ensuring that it doesn't remain just a museum piece.
