I began researching ragtime in 1983, in an effort to learn about African-American composers in the early 20th century. The music was so exciting, so rich, and so representative of the double-consciousness of Africans in America, that I became determined to bring it to the attention of the public. In 1985, I presented the “Ragtime Legacy,” a lecture/concert on the compositions of early ragtime composers, including Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Artie Matthews, Eubie Blake and James P. Johnson. In 1986, I formed “Taslimah’s Ragtime Band,” which featured my band arrangements of ragtime pieces by these composers. In 1989, Marcus Belgrave introduced me to Charlie Gabriel, and my research in ragtime took on a different twist. Marcus and Charlie taught me to “take the music off the paper,” and play it – not read it. They took me under their wings and taught me how to play, arrange and present this music, giving me the benefit of their over 60+ years of experience. Concepts that I could imagine but could not articulate were solidified under their direction, i.e., simultaneous improvisation and the New Orleans parade beat. The result is the CD before you, which features the Taslimah Bey Quartet at the Harlequein Café, and Taslimah’s Ragtime Band performing during Cleveland’s Jazz Circle series.