RIVER CITY RAMBLERS

Relive the Golden Age of Dixieland music with the River City Ramblers! You can almost taste the nickel ice cream and fresh squeezed lemonade with every sizzling performance of this six-piece combo, showcasing the exuberant sounds of banjo, trumpet, clarinet, piano, drums and sousaphone. The members of this ensemble have played in an impressive list of jazz events across the U.S. and Europe, including the St. Louis Ragtime Festival, the Mid-America Jazz Festival, the Convention of Jazz Educators, the Indianapolis Jazz Festival and Jeannie Kittrel’s Jazz Incredibles. They have also individually backed up great artists, including Jimmie Rodgers, “Wild Bill” Davidson, and Barbara McNair.

Since 1973, the River City Ramblers have proven to be much more than just another band playing Dixieland music. They are consummate musicians, who understand the history and roots of Dixieland jazz, and create a fun, jovial atmosphere to reflect the mindset of the music’s original creation. From the moment these fabulous gents stroll onto the stage, they engage the audience with an inviting warmth and a mixture of talent, wit and down-home entertaining style.

“The rafters really rang with roars of approval and standing ovations. Each of the six is a consummate technician and played with fire and soul, as if to the manner bred.” -- Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“ I’d put this band up against any in the country.” -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

RIVER CITY RAMBLERS - BIO

BOB CECCARINI

Since 1968, Bob Ceccarini has been principal trumpet with the St. Louis Municipal Opera Orchestra. His Dixieland group, the River City Ramblers, has been touring since 1973, performing at many jazz festivals across the United States. Bob has toured with the international company of A Chorus Line and with the Wayne Newton Show. He is presently music contractor for the Fox Theatre Orchestra, the Municipal Opera Orchestra, and the St. Louis Repertory Orchestra. He has performed with the St. Louis Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony Pops on numerous occasions

DAVID “RED” LEHR

Recognized as one of the finest jazz sousaphone players in the world, Red is basically a self taught musician who started on trombone at the age of six and then changed to sousaphone at age thirteen. Mainly playing in marching and “oom-pah” bands, Red started with a banjo band in St. “Jazz Incredibles” in 1985, and has performed on several occasions with Richard Hayman and the St. Louis Symphony Pops Orchestra.

JOHN BECKER

After twenty years as a music consultant with NBC Television Affiliate KSDK in St. Louis, John retired to devote more time to playing and promoting the banjo as an American art form. John has been a featured soloist on the Robert E. Lee Riverboat and has toured Europe with the Jazz Incredibles. He has also been featured at the nationally known St. Louis Ragtime Festival. “Big John” is considered one of the finest banjo performers in the nation. He first became well known during the golden era of St. Louis’ “Gaslight Square” in the 1960’s where he led “Big John’s Banjo Band”.

PATRICK JOYCE

Pat’s grandfather, a noted jazz musician, started Pat on classical piano at the age of four, and he was a fine classical pianist by the time he reached college age. Webster College in St. Louis impressed Pat, so he moved to St. Louis and earned a performance degree in piano. After his junior year at Webster, he was selected to attend the famous Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Pat has performed with “Wild Bill” Davidson and at the Indianapolis Jazz Festival. He is a regular at the Mid-American Jazz Festival held annually in St. Louis.

JOE BUERGER

Joe has lived and studied in St. Louis for the past eighteen years, and has performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic and the Washington University Orchestra, plus recording with his own jazz quintet. Joe maintains a busy teaching schedule and is on the percussion staff of Florissant Valley Community College. Joe performs regularly with many groups in St. Louis, and he has backed Rodgers and Jazz vibist, Dan DeMichael^?. Recently he was honored to be a guest artist at the National Association of Jazz Educators convention.

SCOTT ALBERICI

Except for an early experience playing the accordion, Scott was late in his start of a musical career. He began playing the clarinet at the age of nineteen, and within two years had performed his first professional job. Charlie Menees, noted authority on jazz and big band music, said, “He’s on his way to widespread acclaim…He sounds a lot like a young Benny Goodman.” Scott has performed with many Dixieland greats, such as Ernie Carson, “Wild Bill” Davidson, Clark Terry and Sonny Stitt, and has performed at many jazz festivals, as well as the 1980 convention of Jazz Educators.

-- RaymondLutz - 15 Mar 2005