This is the second volume of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra’s series of recordings paying tribute to the pioneering African-American composers of late nineteenth and early twentieth century New York City.

The initial inspiration behind this effort was James Weldon Johnson’s fascinating 1930 history book 'Black Manhattan', which described the evolution of New York’s black music and theatre communities from the 1890s through to the 1920s. Through its pages, Johnson (1871–1938) brought to life an amazing group of achievers - musicians, writers, stage performers and businessmen - whose work profoundly transformed the cultural life of this nation.

Black Manhattan Vol.1 centered on music composed by members of the legendary Clef Club. The present volume ranges a bit more widely, offering music from the theatre, ballroom and recital stage. All of the selections heard here are performed from original orchestrations using antique instruments. Most have never before been recorded.

Track Listing:
1. Shuffle Along Overture (Eubie Blake–Will H Vodery)
2. Nobody (Bert A Williams)
3. That’s Got ’Em - Rag (Wilbur C Sweatman)
4. Honey Lamb (Al Johns)
5. Brazilian Dreams (Will H Dixon)
6. Down in Honky Tonky Town (Chris Smith)
7. Returned: A Negro Ballad (Will Marion Cook)
8. The Bell Hop Rag (Frederick M Bryan)
9. Black Patti Waltzes (Will Accooe)
10. Goodnight Angeline (James Reese Europe)
11. The Castle Walk (James Reese Europe–Ford T Dabney)
12. Aunt Hagar’s Children Blues (W C Handy)
13. Valse Angelique (J Tim Brymn)
14. At the Ball, That’s All (J Leubrie Hill)
15. When the Moon Shines (from the 1904 revival of In Dahomey) (James J Vaughan)
16. Oh! You Devil (Ford T Dabney)
17. Breath of Autumn (Will H Dixon)
18. Pine Apple Rag Song (Scott Joplin)
19. Fizz Water (Eubie Blake)