Red Hook Ramblog

Jazz at Lincoln Center!

2012-04-22T19:52:00.000-04:00

We're very excited to announce that we have been selected by Jazz at Lincoln Center to kick off both nights of their New Orleans Celebration, on May 11th and 12th 2012! We'll be playing free, open-to-the-public pre-concert celebrations before both shows each night. with two sets per night from 6:30 to 8:00 and 8:45 to 9:30.
The other concerts that night are an evening of the Music of Jelly Roll Morton, featuring an octet led by Marcus Roberts, and a summit of New Orleans Piano Kings, featuring Ellis Marsalis, Henry Butler, and Jonathan Batiste.

This will be a great night of New Orleans music, and we are honored and excited to be a part of it! Hope to see you at the shows!

Less silence, more silents!

2012-04-16T17:44:00.000-04:00

We hear you New York! You love classic comedies with our live soundtracks. You've been jam-packing every one of the Silent Film Spectaculars at Jalopy Theatre with smiles and laughter, and you've asked for more. So this week Thursday, April 19th, catch a new installment of classic comedy two-reelers with our original jazzy score. Click here to purchase a $10 ticket on Jalopy's website.

We had such a hoot with Laurel & Hardy's "Big Business," that we've paired with them again on "Liberty" (1929). While on the lam, the duo get their pants mismatched and, in an effort to get properly dressed, wind up dangling high above the city. 'Nuff said.

"Fiddlesticks" (1927) is our first collaboration with Harry Langdon, and a very promising start. Harry wants nothing more than to be a successful musician, but finds in this film that resourcefulness is more important than any music degree can confer. So true! We're happy to have Lloyd Miller from the Deedle Deedle Dees joining us for this show and playing Harry's actual bass part!

For our third film, we are bringing back one of our favorites, Buster Keaton's "The Playhouse" (1921), which we premiered at our first Spectacular, a year ago. We've seen a lot of silent comedies, and there is not a single one quite like this film. In an age where film technology was rather limited, Buster was able to achieve a number of astounding effects here, AND deliver all the comedy that made him a star.

As always, this show is suitable for all ages, and each film is only 20 minutes long, so you'll be able to dip into Jalopy's fine selection of beverages during the breaks, and the evening will conclude with us performing a short set of original tunes and standards.

These shows always sell-out, so get your ticket now! Still ONLY $10! Click here to purchase a ticket on Jalopy Theatre's website.

Critics' Pick of the Week, hey hey!

2012-02-14T20:05:00.004-05:00

Thanks, TimeOut NY, for making our show this Sunday the 19th at Jalopy Theatre the #3 Critics' Pick of the Week!

They say: "Making the depths of February seem like a good thing, this old-timey jazz band accompanies silent movie shorts in a cozy space."

We also made the front page of the Time Out New York website! Here's a screen grab for posterity.

Did you see us on Four Weddings?

2012-01-26T17:44:00.002-05:00

Hello from TV land! This month we made an appearance on the TLC show, Four Weddings. One of the competing brides held her wedding reception in New York's Downtown Association and hired us to kick up her cocktail party with hot jazz. The music got the bride big points for originality, class and fun. To quote one of the judges: "My number one highlight from the cocktail hour was the jazz band. It really got everyone moving, brought a great energy." Watch this clip and see for yourself! (As you'll notice, we lead the entire reception up the stairs to the dinner. Our mobility is a popular attraction to wedding couples, as we can lead ceremonies to receptions, receptions to dinners, etc.)

Your browser does not support the video tag.

More Props from Time Out NY

2011-11-03T11:10:00.002-04:00

Big thanks, once again, to Time Out NY for promoting our silent film performances. In this week's issue, they feature us in an article about Live-Scored Film Screenings:

"The Red Hook Ramblers, local revivalists of foot-stomping, old-timey New Orleans jazz, occasionally hit this theater to jam out original scores during films by silent-era titans like Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. Details for future performances are still being planned, but the group is penciled in for a Sunday night in February. Snatch up tix as soon as they go on sale, though—all past screenings with the Ramblers have sold out."

Halloween Live Music-Silent Film Spooktacular!

2011-10-27T17:33:00.009-04:00

Following the immense success of our previous silent film shows, Brooklyn Heights Cinema is proud to present this fiendish and foolish incarnation of our silent film extravaganza, in which we play live hot jazz to spooky comedy classics from the 1920s. We're even planning to add a dash of theremin (invented in 1920) to give the shows an extra dose of Halloween eeriness!

We're pleased to announce that this event is endorsed by New York 1, New York Times, The Brooklyn Eagle, and many more.

Come get possessed with laughter as we lay down some haunting tunes and sound effects; Buster Keaton tries to escape "The Haunted House" (1921), Stan Laurel terrorizes the town in "Dr. Pyckle & Mr. Pride" (1925), and Harold Lloyd finds that marriage is something terrifying in "Haunted Spooks" (1920).

TWO SHOWS!
Oct. 30th: 5pm
Oct. 31st: 7pm

Brooklyn Heights Cinema
70 Henry St.
Brooklyn Heights
www.brooklynheightscinema.com

Hey Mr. Jesse Podcast

2011-09-01T13:40:00.012-04:00

We're honored and delighted to be featured on DJ Jesse Miner's podcast from San Francisco, co-hosted by Manu "Spuds" Smith (co-founder of Yehoodi.com). These guys are a couple of the wittiest and most discerning swing DJs out there, so we're tickled to hear their glowing review of some tracks from Something More Sinister and our Edison cylinder recordings. Nice work connecting 1890s with 2011 technology, guys! The show features commentary on swing-scene news, a sampling of new recordings from a variety of artists, and an expert comparison of recently remastered 78s. Check it out here.

Wax Cylinder Recording Session!

2011-07-22T04:14:00.001-04:00

Check out our new Edison Wax Cylinder Recordings EP, recorded at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park on a 1908 Edison Phonograph using brown wax cylinders, the preferred recording medium of the 1890s!

Edison Wax Cylinder Recordings EP by Red Hook Ramblers
We wrote all new songs for the session, with special arrangements squeezing them into the roughly 2:15 maximum time allowed on each cylinder. We were thrilled to have a few guest musicians on the session with us: Jeff Hudgins on clarinet and alto sax, and Brian Adler on drums.

Here's video from our friend Mac, the ancient recording technology guru who hooked us up with this incredible opportunity, and who is also the man behind WFMU's Antique Phonograph Music Program. The video shows a take plagued by a technical malfunction in the recording machine, which caused the cylinder to slow down. When played back on a different machine that was working properly, the audio plays at an increased speed and pitch. Luckily Jerry Fabris, the Museum Curator, knew how to handle it and all the other takes were glitch-free!

We were told the only source of new wax cylinders is a single English guy working out of his garage, so they're kind of rare and expensive. Therefore, the park keeps the cylinders, shaving them down to reuse for future recording sessions. However, the aforementioned Mr. Fabris bridged the centuries and created digital files using a fancy electric motor-driven phonograph that could plug directly into an analog to digital converter and then the computer. Yes, the product of early 20th century recording technology is being distributed by early 21st century media technology. We're selling each individual track for 35 cents, the going price for a cylinder in 1908, as set by Thomas Edison. We'll cut you a deal though, and you can have all four tracks for 99 cents. Other than a quick little fade at the beginning and end of each tune, and one minor edit to one tune, no processing was done to the files – no EQ, no compression, nuthin'! Pure, waxy, crackly mono sound!

Horns for Voltaire!!

2011-07-18T03:12:00.001-04:00

We'll be heading back to the studio tonight to record more horns for our friend Voltaire. He's working on his next Goth masterpiece called "Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children," or "RABUDTSOAEVWDFACFWTLOSM" if you're into that whole incomprehensible acronym thing.

It's a true gothstravaganza with drums from Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls, cello from Melora Creager of Rasputina, and bass from David J of Bauhaus. It's also got a generous slathering of accordion from Franz Nicolay. Where'd I put that eyeliner?

We're All A-Twitter...

2011-07-18T01:51:00.002-04:00

We have succumbed to the pull of Twitter!
Follow us @RedHookRamblers!
Follow @RedHookRamblers

Village Voice "Voice Choice" this Sunday: The RHR Silent Film Summer Spectacular #2

2011-06-28T23:54:00.006-04:00

That's right! Our April silent film-concert at Jalopy Theatre was such a blast, excitement is already mounting for the next one, this Sunday, July 3rd, at 8pm. As featured in the "Voice Choices" section of the Village Voice, we're playing music to accompany a Fatty Arbuckle & Buster Keaton classic, "Coney Island" (1917), Harold Lloyd's "A Jazzed Honeymoon" (1919), and Charlie Chaplin's "A Day's Pleasure" (1919). Escape the city heat and retreat into the comfort of Jalopy Theatre with a cool beer and a lot of laughs. This event is also a "Critic's Pick" in this week's Time Out New York! It also got a mention in the New York Times!

All the films feature a summer/vacation theme, and "Coney Island" is especially notable for its shots of the old boardwalk sights and thrill rides in their heyday. Relax and enjoy staying out late on a Sunday while we throw down some hot jazz after the films too. Come check us out in Staten Island's Travis Fourth of July Parade on Monday if you can!

Albee Square Grand Opening! and Sunny's!

2011-06-22T00:59:00.003-04:00

Come out and celebrate the opening of the newly-renovated Albee Square in downtown Brooklyn!

This Friday, June 24th. Things kick off at 10:00am, and there will be live music all day long by some really cool bands. We'll be playing from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. For more info, go to www.fultonstreet.org/albeesquare

While you're there, you might as well hop on the B61 bus and come out to Red Hook to hear us play later that night at one of the greatest bars in NYC, Sunny's! We should start around 10:00pm. Plenty of time to grab a bite to eat at any one of the great restaurants out in Red Hook and get down to hear some music.

Hope to see you there...

Foodies Delight!

2011-06-06T18:34:00.003-04:00

Check out this mouth-watering preview of this Sunday's Hester Street Fair:
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/06/hester_street_fair_invites_you.html?mid=twitter_GrubStreet

We'll be playing from 1:00pm to 3:00pm - should be quite a time with some great food & music!

At the corner of Essex St. & Hester St. on the Lower East Side!

More info here!

Time Out New York Critic's Pick: Buster Keaton & RHR!

2011-04-07T01:54:00.008-04:00

We're really excited about our performance this Sunday. We'll be playing our music to accompany Buster Keaton’s “The Playhouse” (1921) and “Cops” (1922), two of the most popular short comedies by the iconic silent film director and actor. Following the screenings, we'll play some of the new songs from our new album, Something More Sinister.

Time Out New York named this event a Critic's Pick this week, and it's featured in the Apr 7-13 issue on page 41 as part of "Your perfect weekend."

The show is presented by Jalopy Theater & School of Music, a celebrated mainstay of the city’s country, blues, folk, and jazz community located in Red Hook, Brooklyn. In 2008, the Village Voice named Jalopy the Best Old-Timey Venue in New York.

In the burlesque spirit of our new CD, Jalopy will kick off the show by screening a series of short burlesque clips from the silent era, accompanied by selections from Jalopy’s collection of vintage jazz recordings. Should be a great time!

CD Release Show Sold Out!

2011-02-20T15:53:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who packed Galapagos last night and gave us an ecstatic reception for the release of Something More Sinister. We hope you're all enjoying your CDsssssssssss!

Photos by Joel Bischoff

New Album Available!

2011-02-19T04:53:00.001-05:00

We're excited to announce that our new album of all original material is now available! Give it a listen here:

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider purchasing it! Check out music.redhookramblers.com for more info. As of right now, we're using bandcamp.com exclusively for selling our music online. Eventually we'll move to iTunes and Amazon and the rest, but the great thing about Bandcamp is that they take a much smaller cut of the income than iTunes/Amazon and the others, and they also give you much more control over how to distribute your music. So we're able to set our price lower than iTunes, but still earn more than we would for a higher-priced download from the other services. Also bandcamp gives you more options for what kinds of files to download - we put the highest resolution files (24 bit, 88.2 kHz) we had up on the site, and you have your choice of what resolution/kind of file you'd like to get.

We hope you enjoy the music!

Radio Encore

2011-02-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

In case you missed our appearance on WFMU, you can now listen to the entire show here, on the Free Music Archive.

Ramblers on the Radio!

2011-01-28T15:39:00.000-05:00

We're very excited to have been asked back on to the Antique Phonograph Music Program on WFMU. We'll be in the studio on Tuesday, February 8th, from 8pm to 9pm, playing tunes from our upcoming album, Something More Sinister. You can listen over the ether at 91.1 FM in the NYC area and 90.1 FM in the Hudson Valley, or stream it online at wfmu.org. Thanks to Mac for asking us back!

New CD!

2011-01-24T20:37:00.002-05:00

We're hard at work putting the finishing touches on our brand new album. It's called Something More Sinister, and it features all original songs written by the folks in the band! We'll be having a CD release extravaganza with burlesque performers and aerialists at Galapagos in DUMBO on February 19th! The music will also be available for download on iTunes, Amazon, etc. More details to come soon.

J-E-T-S!

2011-01-24T20:32:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately the NY Jets didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year, but the good news is they've already asked us back for next season! We should be playing at all the home games in the fall/winter of 2011!

More Jets!

2010-11-09T14:06:00.000-05:00

We're happy to report that the New York Jets have hired us to play the rest of their home games this season! In addition to the Monday Night Football and Halloween games we did, we'll also be joining them on the following dates and times:
Nov 21 - 11:00am to 1:00pm
Nov 25 (Thanksgiving) - 6:20pm to 8:20pm
Dec 12 - 2:15 to 4:15pm
Jan 2 - 11:00am to 1:00pm

Go Jets!

New York Jets!

2010-10-09T19:55:00.000-04:00

We're going to be warming the crowd up this Monday night as the Jets take on the Minnesota Vikings at the New Meadowlands Stadium! We'll be starting at around 6:15 or so, and playing up until the game starts at 8:30. Keep an eye open for us on ESPN!

TIme Out New York Interview

2010-09-23T17:05:00.001-04:00

Our friends at Time Out New York magazine asked to interview us about our favorite neighborhood, Red Hook, for their Why I Love New York series. Our own Jason "Jellybean" Benjamin opined on some of his favorite Red Hook haunts. The article is mentioned in this week's issue, and the whole thing can be read on-line here.

Switzerland Tour

2010-05-21T14:14:00.003-04:00

While the Icelandic volcano gods were sleeping, resting their firey bellies momentarily, from May 6th to 12th the Red Hook Ramblers slipped over to Switzerland for a quick tour and a successful appearance at the Meilen Jazz Festival (locally known as Meilemer Jazztage). That combination of stealth and luck was our key to a fabulous time while the odds were stacked against us.
Yep, it looked kinda tough from the outset. In Zurich, a number of venues offered us gigs and then went out of business or bailed on us. We then resolved to do heavy busking to drum up cash, but the weather report was full of rain. Additionally, our banjo/piano man, Chris/Ceej/Cujo Johnson could not go with us and our road manager's (Tara's) dear grandmother passed away just a day before our departure. But we kept our chins up, and amazingly, the sun came out blazing.
We owe a lot of thanks to Rolf Schweizer who organized the Meilen festival and took good care of us. He put us up at a mountainside resort overlooking Lake Zurich where we partied with some local yodelers and Coco (Chris Cortier) jammed on didgeridoo. The audiences at the festival were great, and we gave them everything: four hours of hot jazz on Friday and Saturday, plus a parade from the train station to Blumentals restaurant, our main hang. We proudly found our picture in an article in the Zurichsee-Zeitung paper.
From there we moved into downtown Zurich and had our first gig at the zoo. Kids and families loved us (of course!) and the zoo was very, very generous with the food. Yes, the Swiss dig good food, and even the zoo's cafeteria featured gourmet salads, wine, beer, steaks... mmm. I'd gladly live in a cage there.
On Monday we had a burst of luck while busking down by the waterfront. A lovely expat named Penny took a shine to us and connected us with restaurant owners that cater to the Swiss bank crowd. Thanks a ton, Penny! Give ol' Murphy a pat from us. Also, our wonderful new friend Uli (who had seen us perform in Meilen) found us roaming around and hooked us up at Zurich University for a big party at their geology center. From there, we raced across town and fell into the care of Erik Haemmerli at Old Fashion bar. Erik, we can't thank you enough for your hospitality - wow.
On Tuesday we played again for the university students and then finished the day at Erik's other restaurant, Bederhof.
Thanks so much to Tara Simmons, our road manager who really made this thing happen, and thanks to all the lovely Swiss people that made the trip spectacular. We hope to see you all again!

2010 TONY Eat Out Awards

2010-05-21T14:00:00.001-04:00

On April 5th we were invited by TIME OUT NY magazine to provide all the music for their Eat Out Awards, where they recognized the latest and greatest restaurants making the scene in the Big Apple. It was a beautiful night in the chic environs of Le Poisson Rouge where we played a different theme song for each of the award winners as they strode to the stage. We also got everyone fired up before the event, making the whole thing about three hours total - whoo-ee! Bonus points if you caught us playing the Star Wars Cantina Band tune for the "Best Hipster Hangout" award.