The Entertainers » Video

Adam at the Diamond Belle Saloon

Michael — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:20:41 +0000

Here’s a video from Contest founder, emcee, and friend of the movie Ted Lemen! Check it out:

Blind “Maple Leaf Rag”

Nick — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:52:24 +0000

From the depths of The Entertainers library of footage, I put this together to hopefully make your summer a little cooler. Martin Spitznagel and Bryan Wright withstand blindfolds and a little colleague shenanigans to bang out this two-piano masterpiece. Sorry if the camera is shaking too much. I enjoyed this one…and sort of forgot I was shooting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWRjh9BnzRw

More from Ragtime to Riches

Nick — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:46:25 +0000

Here’s two more clips from the Ragtime to Riches festival that was held in Omaha on July 10th and 11th. Sundays shows featured Adam Swanson, who set R to R’s modest attendance record for the six years of its existence, and Burns Davis, who performed rags composed by Omaha’s own Gil Lieby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cr9oN_Xhic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE7FImg05zk

A view from Ragtime to Riches

Nick — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:04:59 +0000

It was an honor and privilege to join Jim and the gang in Omaha last week for the Sixth Annual Ragtime to Riches Festival at the University of Nebraska – Omaha. Jim busted his tail to put together some great shows featuring Adam, Marty, Burns Davis, and Jim himself rollicking the 1920s Steinway grand piano. And the lucky many who came also helped raise some respectable dough for Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

In case you weren’t able to join us, we’re here to make up for it with a few clips. Here is one each from the Saturday lineup of Marty Mincer and Jim Boston.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv8WpbXcOhs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFg6189NNDE

Ethan Hosts the Carolina Ragtime Contest This Weekend

Nick — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:49:35 +0000

A lucky couple hundred folks in Charlotte are going to be treated to some old-time piano awesomeness this weekend. Four titans of ragtime will perform at the first ever Carolina Ragtime Piano Contest. One of our Entertainers, Ethan Uslan, is responsible for this event. He wanted to bring some of his friends into town to flex their tricky fingers in front of piano fans, and “Perfessor” Bill Edwards, Russell Wilson, and Martin Spitznagel obliged. The three will square off in two shows, where a contest winner will be determined by audience vote. Ethan will emcee.

Ethan has busted his tail to put these shows together, and, no surprise, they’re sold out already. I know I’m sorry I won’t be there. I’ve seen all these guys rock the bejesus out of a piano, and these shows are going to be fantastic.

To supplement our collective sorrow for missing out, here’s a clip of Ethan explaining why the piano is the best instrument:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APAZCWCGPm4

And I’m going to link to clips of each performer in the next few days. Here’s Mr. Russell Wilson slaying “When The Saints Go Marching In” in Peoria just a few weeks ago, courtesy of our friends at Ragtime Press:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Legz2nbxpmc

“Perfessor” Bill on Disney

Nick — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:56:13 +0000

Michael’s post the other day on Disney’s role in ragtime made me want to dig up a couple of comments from “Perfessor” Bill Edwards, who should be a paid endorser considering the high esteem he holds for the Mouse. Here is a brief snippet from one of our interviews with him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chVZoTcTJWU

Outtake: “The Entertainer” Harmon-style

Nick — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:54:48 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbwU-Py-DNA

Outtake: “Car-Barlick-Acid”

Nick — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:31:16 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV9OTMVmwtg

Two-time World Old-Time Piano Champions Adam Swanson and Marty Mincer perform Clarence C. Wiley’s “Car-Barlick-Acid” at Adam’s house during our late-April visit to Shenandoah, Iowa. Marty lives in nearby Hamburg. Practically neighbors.

Outtake: “When the Saints…”

Nick — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:26:35 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N-KUXLXC1A

Ethan Uslan supports a fake trumpeter (me) on “When the Saints Go Marching In” in this exclusive outtake from the filming. I’m not even a good fake trumpet player, but that man is a great piano player.

The 2008 Contest Teaser

Nick — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:31:29 +0000

If you have not gotten to see the trailer we put together from footage from the 2008 World Championships, check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV5cYXU7f04

In the spring of 2008, Michael, Brent, Seth, Paul and I (along with some help from Jackie Watkins too), headed to the 2008 World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest in Peoria. We brought some cameras to film our experience there. Our hope was to confirm that the contest and the people there had a compelling story to tell on film.

That part was proved in spades (and clubs and diamonds and hearts). We took the footage we shot and edited this trailer, a prelude to the stories and themes of a feature film about the Contest.

When we were there, we laughed, we cried, we fell in love with old-time piano and the folks who play it. The trailer shows a little bit of that and a sign of things to come…