About the revellers
Traditional Jazz has seen many revivals over the last 50 years. The first being in the 50s with the likes of Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen and again in the 1970s with bands that topped the charts such as The Temperance 7.
Today, James and the gang are proud to present the Ragtime Revellers! Initially formed in 2012. James Emmett had a vision to bring live traditional good time jazz back into the public eye and into the gardens and organisations of all those who love live music.
Now in its very successful 7th year, you too can make your event special and certainly one to remember.
Meet the gang
Michael White - Trombone
Michael "Soy" White has been a member of the Revellers for some years now. Mike is a natural trombone player and his pride and joy 1920s Conn trombone has recently undergone a complete refurbishment by his own fair hand. Mike started playing Jazz in Bournemouth university but is no stranger to brass banding or concert bands. Mikes trombone hero is Jack Teagarden.
Michael White - Trombone
Tom Ward - Drums
Tom originally comes from Verwood and has grown up in bands and has a wide range of experience in many different styles. Tom comes from a family of musicians as his mother also plays in a band in his home town of Verwood.
Tom Ward -
Drums
James Emmett - Sousaphone
James is the creator and band leader of the Ragtime Revellers. His musical career started by playing the Cornet in Yorkshire. James transferred over to Bass after a long stint on the cornet. shortly after this move he formed the Ragtime Revellers. James enjoys getting out there with the Revellers and showing people young and old what traditional jazz is all about.
James Emmett -Sousaphone
Graham Majin discovered 1920s jazz at the same time his mates were discovering disco and punk. A strange curiosity led him to randomly select an LP from his local library on the way home from school one afternoon. The LP featured the legendary cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, and the sound of the Paul Whiteman and Jean Goldkette orchestras have haunted him ever since. "I think it's partly the choirs of 1920s saxophones" says Graham, "There's something unique and haunting about the way they played back in those days". Since then Graham's musical taste has continued to evolve, he's equally at home with 1940s and 1950s jazz and popular music, and wishes he could sound like Bing Crosby and/or Lester Young.
Graham Majin - Tenor Sax/Vocals
Andy - Whitaker
Andy's Bio will go here once he sends it to me. It will comprise of interesting information and maybe a useful fact or two! im looking forward to reading it in the near future!
Andy Whitaker - Banjo/Vocals
Oleg is originally from Ukraine and has performed all over the world. Born into a professional musician family there was no doubt where his career would lead.
A Multi-Instrumentalist of Clarinet, Saxophone and Flute, Oleg has spent many months of his career performing professionally on cruise lines, having only been in England for a few years he has already played for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Norfolk, and many professional and amateur productions. Oleg has played with the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Kiev Saxophone Quartet, and Broadway
Oleg currently teaches woodwind in local schools and still performs professionally himself.