Eau Claire Ragtime Festival Performers

St. Louis Stompers (Missouri)

The St. Louis Stompers Classic Jazz Band plays a mixture of Chicago and New Orleans style traditional jazz reminiscent of Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Jelly Roll Morton, and King Oliver.  The band has played for radio and television broadcasts and for festivals from California to Florida.

KFUO FM, Classic 99’s Tom Sudholt describes the Stompers as “red hot and razor sharp!”  Following the band’s 2002 appearance at the Lakeside Dixiefest in Clear Lake, Iowa, festival director Rich Dean wrote “this powerful group performs early arrangements in the style of the original bands.  They are excellent musicians, both as soloists and as an ensemble.  They were a great hit at last year’s festival.”  Wayne Arihood, director of LaCrosse, Wisconsin’s Great River Jazz Fest, wrote “with...multi-talented musicians, this group has been burning up the festival circuit.  From traditional jazz tunes to swing, the Stompers attack each with vigor and gusto.  Musically tight, technically astounding, laced with humor, and always entertaining, they will have you calling for more.  Luckily, they have more!”

Also see www.stlouisstompers.com

Paul Asaro (Illinois)

Paul Asaro is known worldwide as one of the finest interpreters of the ragtime and jazz piano styles of Harlem Stride, Jelly Roll Morton, Scott Joplin and Eubie Blake. Asaro plays them all with a fine ear for detail, blending the elements into his own personal style.

Paul has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has performed onstage with such musical legends and luminaries as Leon Redbone, Steve Allen, Marian McPartland, Butch Thompson, Jeff Healy and Vince Giordano. He was one of the featured pianists in the Obie award winning Broadway production of Vernel Bagneris’ and Morten Gunnar Larsen’s "Jelly Roll! The Music and the Man". Asaro has had long runs as house pianist aboard the legendary New Orleans steamboat "Delta Queen" and in Chicago with Jim Beebe's Chicago Jazz band. The Paul Asaro Trio featuring cornetist Scott Black and master ragtime guitarist Craig Ventresco has toured extensively and has made three recordings.

Currently Asaro tours the country as accompanist to Leon Redbone, playing concerts as a duo and appearing on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Mountain Stage”. Paul has recently completed a recording session with singer and guitarist Loudon Wainwright III, performed solos and two-piano duets with Butch Thompson and Jon Weber for the Twin Cities Jazz Festival’s “Stride Piano Night”, and is planning an extended Midwestern solo tour in 2009 for Allied Concert Services.

Also see http://www.paulasaro.com/