Ragging the Scale - Van Eps Banjo Orchestra

[carrie horgan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZYaoR-h6F8

A different version of Ragging the Scale than the one in the Original Recordings library marked as Van Eps Banjo Orchestra.  I wonder who the other musicians were - sounds like plectrum or tenor banjo.

[Trapdoor2]

I believe that is FVE's brother Bill on the other banjo. The sax is likely played by Nathan Glantz. I'm not sure if I hear a piano in there...but if so, it would have probably been Frank Banta. They also used Eddie King on drums and a xylophonist (Joe Green) on some recordings of this period (still called the "Van Eps Banjo Orchestra" though).

https://www.gracyk.com/fredvaneps.shtml

[carrie horgan]

Thanks Marc - interesting link.  Reading the BMG, this is the time of the 'dance craze' with smaller bands (sometimes called a Ragtime Sextette) using banjo, trap dums, and other instruments like mandolin, sax or piano. Great fun.