Reviews

It becomes increasingly ironic that certain forms of music, known to be what was played in almost any home in large regions of the country in past times, is now collected on recording by a very small percentage of households with CD players. The focus on this recording is Western Swing, denned in the liner notes by bands such as the most famous, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and the lesser-known Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers, The Tune Wranglers and others. String band music is the medium for many genres, and a healthy cross-section of them is represented. By the mid-1980s, many of the early roots like ragtime, blues and the rest had taken their place inside the genetics of the growing brand known as "country music," which is by far the most successful popular form today across much of the land.

Guitarist Kevin Sanders, a founder of the Etcetera String Band, brought not only very experienced musicianship to this project, but also vast knowledge of the earlier forms that he has studied for decades. The 12 pages of liner notes are more than substantial enough to get even the least knowledgeable listener off and running and enjoying the music with some grip on its history. Assisting, and contributing to the authentic sound, are co-ESB founder Pat Ireland on fiddle, Harvey Heidbreder on bass, and dobro player Steve Philpott. Sanders also plays banjo-guitar, piano and harmonica. Two of the band members provide vocals on about half the tracks.

Although the whole feel of the recorded music has plenty of old-time charm and grit, the acoustic sound is sturdy, balanced and pleasing. There is one interesting effect created by the simplest of techniques, and I'd have to think it was inadvertent. The tracks follow on each other with just a couple of seconds space, rather than the typical eight seconds or so. You feel propelled forward, flowing from tune to tune with some of the same energy you might have at a live festival or informal outdoor event, when the next tune starts mid-applause. There is less of the "museum pieces" aspect to the recording that longer spacing tends to create.

There are a few standards sprinkled amidst the many forgotten gems and obscurities -- "Beaumont Rag," "Mineola Rag," and a piece made (relatively) famous by an early LP of the same title with the Etcetera String Band, "Harvest Hop." There is also an original rag toward the end, "Ragged Edges" by Sanders. It*s a medium-tempo, lightly syncopated piece, and it fits in very well in the context of the rest of the play list It is one of several tunes that shows off Pat Ireland^ double-stops and sharply articulated bowing techniques very nicely.

I hope this CD gets into the hands of people who really appreciate the music and the scholarship, and whose, record shelf could use some sprucing up with a great sounding collection of sparkling string band music. I have noticed the odd fact that even hard core ragtimers, trad jazz fans and boo-gie-woogites (yes, I know, I made up another one), though they will argue at length about the superiority of their chosen style, will generally seem to agree that string band music is not only harmless, but neat stuff. So, get the disc, play it a couple of times through for rehearsal, then bring it out occasionally and sing along with 'em on the choruses.

Got My Dancin' Boots On is available for $17 postpaid from Kevin Sanders, P.O. Box .209, Bonner Springs, KS, G6012, or www.sandersmusic. corn.

Review by David Reffkin
Mississippi Rag, September, 2005

Ragtime's initial popularity may have faded by the end of the twentieth century's second decade, but its influence has been felt in every form of music that succeeded it, including that type of string band music that came to be known as Western Swing. Every string band of the 1930s and `40s had a few rags tucked into their repertoire, played music that was syncopated and produced recordings designed for dancing.

Kevin Sanders, a founding member of the Etcetera String Band, has been a fan of Western Swing for many years and has written scholarly treatises on the subject. Now he has recorded an anthology of the genre and "Hot String Band Music," as this music was known early on, is certainly an apt subtitle. Backed by Pat Ireland on fiddle (another Etcetera alum), Harvey Heidbreder on bass and Steve Philpott on dobro guitar, Sanders has assembled a collection of rags, blues, waltzes, polkas, schottisches, habaneras and Western songs - most of which date from the first half of the twentieth century and all of which are eminently danceable.

Several numbers piqued my interest. I liked all of the rags (Corn Shucks, Mineola Rag, Beaumont Rag and Harvest Hop), as well as Solita, a lovely habanera from 1908 that was published in Butte, Montana (!). Two original pieces, the Cajun flavored waltz (The Painting) by Ireland and the rag (Ragged Edges) by Sanders, also stood out. And many of the songs have clever lyrics that should evoke a chuckle or two.

This is not a slick Nashville recording. Instead, it is music from the heart, played by competent musicians who are probably not known outside of eastern Kansas . The arrangements have a few rough edges and Sanders' voice is sincere if unexceptional. I suspect that at the height of Western Swing's popularity bands such as this existed in towns, large and small, all across mid- and southwestern America. The recorded sound is crisp and the liner notes are so detailed that they could well form a thesis for an advanced degree. This is not strictly ragtime but it is first-generation-once-removed from it. Kevin Sanders has certainly done his homework and I doubt that a better overview of Western Swing music exists on a single CD anywhere.

Available for $15.00 postpaid from Kevin Sanders, P.O. Box 209 , Bonner Springs , KS 66012 or at www.sandersmusic.com on the web.

Compact Disc Review by Jack Rummel

Kevin Sanders has done another outstanding piece of research on the history and development of string band music. This CD should be in the collection of every music lover interested in early American dance music. Sanders has selected for his CD a wide variety of music styles: ragtime, jazz, blues, old-time fiddle tunes, pop, cowboy and ethnic tunes. Sanders states, "It was all Western Swing....... and it was all dance music."

His short, concise biographies on early bands, as well as notes on individual performers make the accompanying booklet important as a reference to those interested in this genre. It is an important tool for scholars who want to document the connection of these different styles of music.

Sanders is the consummate researcher. He connects the early record industry to the beginning days of radio, both of which spread the music across the United States during the 1920s, `30s and `40s. This CD and accompanying booklet are a collection of information which will make an impact on young fans who didn't have the opportunity to hear live performances of early string band music. The instrumentation and arrangements are clean and clear as well as being lively and well orchestrated. And Sanders does a great job with his singing debut! He is to be commended for his dedication.

After you have listened to this entertaining recording, you'll feel the urge to put your dancin' boots on!

The CDs are $15.00 each post-paid and may be ordered from Kevin Sanders, P. O. Box 209, Bonner Springs, KS 66012. E-mail: Kevin@SandersMusic.com Website: www.sandersmusic.com * Editor's Note: The last 6 issues of the "Revelry Rag" contain the extensively researched article by Sanders on this subject entitled "Ragtime's Influence on Country Music".

Autumn, 2003 CD Review
by Smiley Wallace

"Early Western Swing material played today in the classic styling.... A very interesting concept. I will be giving a few of the tunes air play on my 'Swingin' West' radio program."

-Mike Gross, Radio Station WVOF- Fairfiled, CT

“Up to the high quality that I thought it would be. Some of the raggier pieces will be on my show from time to time.”

- David Reffkin, The Ragtime Machine, radio KUSF-FM

“The arrangements and the execution is top notch and the accompanying booklet approaches Masters thesis level, well researched, well written, along with a supporting source list. Great project, well done!"

- Gord Davidson contributing editor, The Mississippi Rag

“Lots of well played stuff.”

- Duke LaCrosse, Old-Time Herald

From the opening tune "Goin' To The Barn Dance" to the last track "Blessed Be The Name" you will find yourself getting a musical workout as well as a physical workout. Got My Dancin' Boots On is just too much fun. And you will find a few different styles of music. I especially enjoyed the ragtime feel of "Who Walks In When I Walk Out," complete with dixie-land style banjo. Kevin and company have given us some nice vocals on tunes of yesteryear in addition to some instrumentals that will get you out of your chair to either dance a lively polka or even a soothing waltz, such as "The Painting." The Spanish feel and sound of "Solita" reminds me of the movie The Long Riders. Like many a good album, liner notes are included, giving a brief explanation of each tune. All in all Got My Dancin' Boots On is perfect for staging your own dance in your own home, if you cannot afford a live band. Visit Kevin Sanders' site today and get your own copy.

A Review
by Nathan Sanders,
Stringband.com