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Sacramento Ragtime
Society Newsletter
January 2008
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Ragtime's
Ten Best of 2007
by Lewis Motisher
Pages 4-5.
2. Best of the Best. I don't
usually name a single performer as "the best" in these lists because it's
far too subjective and might result in hurt feelings. That being said,
how about that Frederick Hodges? His amazing keyboard dexterity is well-known,
but his mere presence at an event serves to elevate it to new levels of
wit, style, class and professionalism. Frederick was all over the West
Coast Ragtime Festival, performing solo, in duets with ADam Swanson and
Alex Hassan, with the Crown Syncopators, singing, accompanying other singers,
emceeing the Youth Concert, presenting the master class, and accompanying
silent movies — all of this pus the ironically arch syntax, the straight
über-blonde hair, and dapper wardrobe. Extraordinary.
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