The Band's History
The music of the Ragweed Jazz Band is for listening, dancing, tapping toes, ordering up another beer, and
for remembering the golden years of jazz - the 30's and 40's - when people like Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong,
Muggsy Spanier, Jack Teagarden, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman were setting the tempo for an era.
It all adds up to a band with an infectious sense of fun and close attention to
the essential spirit of jazz. For many years the band has happily played for its local fans, but more recently has found enthusiastic
acceptance farther afield with appearances in the Orillia Jazz Festival, Simcoe County Jazz Society, London Jazz Society,
Jazz FM 91.1 Summer Series, Du Maurier Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, the International Ragtime Jazztime Festival in
the United States, the Canadian Big Band Festival and Jazzmania. the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in Essex, Connecticut USA,
the Earlyjaz Fall Festival in Strongsville Ohio USA and frequent appearances at the Chick'n' Deli.
Bass player Bob Welbourn, a retired secondary school
Technical Director, is one of the original members and Manager of the band which had its beginnings over 30 years ago.
Al Cox, a relatively recent addition to the band, Al
brings a versatile trumpet to the Ragweed, smoothly adapting his playing to the small-group Dixieland sound. Occasionally
Al will put the trumpet down for a spell and engage the audience with vocals. Prior to joining the Ragweed Jazz
Band, Al spent many years with the well known Excelsior Jazz Band.
Clarinetist, Alastair Lawrie got his first clarinet at
the age of 16, around the time he first heard Benny Goodman. As a jazz reviewer for the Toronto Globe and Mail (somewhat later
in life), he got to know - and occasionally to play with - many of the top jazzmen of the day, including Bobby Hackett, Duke
Ellington, Vic Dickerson and Buddy Tate. He also worked for three years with vibes celebrity Peter Appleyard.
The band's heartbeat - the rhythm section - also includes Jamie
Macpherson whose musical credentials are particularly impressive. He has twice been chosen Canadian national banjo
champion and has appeared in many venues including the United States and in the Caribbean.
An original member of Ragweed, trombonist Jim Nevins
returns after a 15 year absence. From big bands to concert orchestras to small combos, since he first pushed a slide 45 years
ago Jim has performed in Canada, the US and Europe. But he still claims Dixieland jazz as his first love.
Pete McCormick, the celebrated drummer, like a surprising number of jazz
performers in Toronto is a Scot. Inspired by the playing of Gene Krupa (then with the Benny Goodman band), he brought his
love of jazz to Canada. Pete is a former drummer of the Climax Jazz Band and now adds his talents to the Ragweed Jazz Band.
He says he likes to swing - both drums and golf clubs.