American Ragtime

Today I attended a free concert of Czech musicians performing American Ragtime on Hviezdoslavovo Námestie in Bratislava in honor of a Czech Holiday, Václavská pouť. The event was sponsored by Škoda, the Czech car manufacturer.

Ragtime is a style of jazz -- banned by the Communists and frowned on by the Nazis for its non-Aryan roots in black America. That might explain the very joyous performance today.

On the south side of the plaza is the beautiful Czech Embassy, right by the performing area. I learned a little about the day talking to an Embassy employee out in front enjoying the music.

Here's a clip of their performance of the 1902 Ragtime classic, "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?"