Fralinger String Band to strut at jazz festival
This year’s Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival will feature a band whose sound is a big departure from music commonly called jazz.
The Fralinger String Band is bringing its mummer’s musical styles spanning sing-along favorites, Dixieland, jazz, big band, swing, patriotic, contemporary and Latin to The Villages Green at the Villages of Five Points. The show starts at noon, Saturday, Oct. 13.
“They’re headlining the free, family concert,” said Denny Santangini, Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival president.
Philadelphia mummers are costumed entertainers who welcome in the New Year by festively parading down center city streets.
Mummery dates back to early Egypt when they led the burial procession of pharaohs, dressed in extravagant costumes, playing finger cymbals, tambourines and other rhythm instruments.
The Fralinger band is called the ultimate in mummers’ entertainment. It has won first, second or third prize in 20 of the last 25 New Years’ Day parades it has performed in.
Dr. John J. Fralinger, a Philadelphia physician and pharmacist, organized the group in 1914.
Known as a progressive string band, Fralinger claims a number of mummer firsts – vocalization, emulation of brass instrument sounds using reed instruments, performance of Dixieland jazz and big band music, and recipient of Philadelphia Mayor’s Achievement Award.
The band performed at this year’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans, at the Hong Kong International Chinese New Year Parade in 2007, and appeared in the 1981 movie ‘Blow Out,’ written and directed by Brian De Palma.
Santangini said additional bands would also perform at the free concert. For updated information during the next two weeks, go to www.rehobothjazz.com.
