Rhythm Rascals Washboard Band

• Genres: Jazz

Biography

A very exciting trad band that specializes in uptempo songs played with the spirit of a Clarence Williams group of the early '30s, the Rhythm Rascals Washboard Band has long worked regularly in Orlando, Florida, often at Disney World. Its leader washboardist Ralf Reynolds is a spirited player with a colorful style and impressive technique. At the time that the band recorded its first set in 1992, Christopher Columbus, it was a quintet consisting of Reynolds, trombonist Bill Allred, clarinetist Jim Snyder, banjoist Lee Floyd and Charlie Silva on tuba. By 1995, the band had expanded to a sextet and was one of the hottest trad groups in the land. The two virtuosos Jim Snyder and Jim Buchmann battled and complemented each other on clarinets, the leader's brother John Reynolds was on guitar and banjoist Floyd was joined by Hank Greve on tuba. Sometimes in concert the group (which plays many classic jazz festivals) is expanded to a septet with the utilization of a third acoustic guitarist/banjoist; the trio of pickers are often successful in simulating the sound of a piano. With Ralf Reynolds leading his musicians through some goodtime group vocals, this is a very exciting group to see live or on records; Futuristic Jungleism (on their Zasu label) is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi