For the first time ever, the Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue comes to Boothbay Harbor. Founded by Artistic Director Aaron Robinson of Alna, the Ragtime Revue has brought the world's best ragtime, stride, blues and early jazz pianists and performers from around the United States to the Midcoast area of Maine since 2019. This year's Revue proudly presents one of today's leading stride pianists: three-time world champion, Grammy nominated Jazz-Ragtime pianist Brian Holland. Along with Grammy Award winning drummer Danny Coots, the pair is the hottest syncopated duo performing on the ragtime circuit both here and abroad. “I’ve been trying to book these guys since the beginning of the Revue.” Robinson said, “They are so in demand. I had to contract them two years out just to get them up here to Maine!” Coots has performed in Maine over the years; centered mainly in and around Bar Harbor. “My brother went to the College of the Atlantic back in the 70s,” says Coots, “and he arranged for the Dixieland band I played in (made up of mostly professors from Saint Lawrence Academy) to play at the college.”

Joining Holland and Coots is archival ragtime pianist, Corte Swearingen, from Florida. Swearingen recently released volume one of [italics]The Complete Works for Ragtime Piano by Glenn Jenks[italics]. He will be joined by host Robinson in performing 4-hand piano duets of rags by Jenks. “This is my first time performing in Maine,” Swearingen says, “I've never met any of Jenks' family or friends so I'm very much looking forward to the experience. Music truly is the universal language, and the fact that we can all come together to honor an American original like Glenn Jenks is inspiring!”

To round out the program, special guests song-and-dance duo: Jones & Boyce, who will perform song and dance routines from the Ragtime era. Susan Boyce and Brian Jones have been a team since 1979 as part of the “New Vaudeville” movement during the Ragtime Revival. “We toured with the New England New Vaudeville Revue and met Glenn Jenks,” Jones & Boyce remembers, “He was a wonderful accompanist, and we appeared with him at many Ragtime Festivals and variety venues over the years.” Susan Boyce performed with Jenks at his Harvest Ragtime Revue at the Camden Opera House from 1989 until 2000. “It’s a privilege to perform in his memory,” says Jones & Boyce, “and we are looking forward to singing and dancing our hearts out in tribute to Glenn.” Boyce will receive the 2024 Glenn Jenks Ragtime Emeritus Award. 

Ragtime author, archivist and musicologist Larry Melton will receive the 2024 Glenn Jenks Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s recipient of the Glenn Jenks “Future in Music” Award is Michael Bostock from Falmouth; who is studying music abroad at the Royal Northern College of Music. 

After a 3-year long project that consisted of compiling, editing and transcribing for publication the complete ragtime works for piano by Glenn Jenks, in honor of his friend and colleague, Robinson formed a non-profit 501(c)3 organization from which all proceeds benefit an annual scholarship that is awarded to young musicians in Maine who wish to further their education in the field of music through Bay Chamber's [italics]Young Stars of Maine[italics] program. Four scholarships have been awarded to date. “Glenn’s mission in life was to teach.” Robinson said, “He was a true mentor to so many during his lifetime.” 

The Ragtime Revue will take place on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, 125 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. The program will consist of 100 years of Ragtime, Stride, Boogie-Woogie, Novelty, Blues and Jazz for piano by composers such as Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Zez Confrey and many more. 

Seating is limited. General Admission at the door or call for reservations: 207-882-6335.