WOW!

Indeed, washboards are more common to such early jazz styles as Dixieland and swing, reaching a height in popularity in the 1930s. “It was kind of a poor man’s drum set,” says Ralf Reynolds, a washboard player in Newport Beach, Calif., who is often hailed as the instrument’s greatest living champion. (He perfected his art playing for more than two decades at Disney theme parks.)

Charles Passy, Wall Street Journal

I have you on my iPod!!

Molly Ringwald, Actress and Guest Vocalist with the Reynolds Brothers

The welcome return of the peerless Rhythm Rascals predictably filled the large room to capacity at the Valley Jazz Club in Canoga Park. Featuring many favorite tunes from the twenties and thirties, plus a few some of us hadn’t heard before, these excellent musicians showed they knew how to provide sparkling entertainment.

Harvey Barkan, LA Jazz Scene

The trad jazz bands the festival has been booking are top-caliber and known around the world for taking the traditional jazz to the next level—almost perfection! …The Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals is a washboard band—and Ralf Reynolds will tell you that any band, even the Beatles, would be a washboard band if they had a washboard player. Brother John Reynolds’ plays such hot riffs on his National Guitar that you can shut your eyes an make believe you’re hearing the late, great Eddie Lang.

Burt Wilson, Sacramento Press

It is difficult not to love the music and wacky humor of the rhythm Rascals. They bring back the spirit of early 1930s washboard bands in their own way, romping through such numbers as “I Would Do Anything For You”, “When I Take My Sugar To Tea”, and “Never Swat A Fly.” They are a real crowd pleaser.

Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene

Having the Reynolds Brothers back at the Sweet & Hot after several years’ absence was a major event. Ralf Reynolds (the king of washboard players) and guitarist-singer John Reynolds performed lively music from the late 1920s/early ‘30s with trumpeter Marc Caparone and bassist Katie Cavera. With Caparone sometimes sounding like Red Allen, John Reynolds hinting at both Dick McDonough and Django Reinhardt, Cavera contributing a very steady walking bass, and Ralf Reynolds adding humorous commentary and hot washboard breaks, this is a band that deserves to be more widely heard. They displayed a tremendous drive on “Never Swat A Fly.” A highpoint was when Dawn Lambeth (Caparone’s wife) contributed a haunting and beautiful vocal on “I Cover The Waterfront.”

Another set by the Reynolds Brothers found the group welcoming trombonist Clint Baker and altoist Larry Wright (who often recalled Capt. John Handy). The three horns played spontaneous arrangements that sounded worked out in advance although they were made up on the spot. Banu Gibson’s drummer Jeff Hamilton sat in on piano and Banu (along with David Boeddinghaus) joined in on “I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling.”

Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

To paraphrase the famous message on an old telephone both wall, “For a good time, call…” the Reynolds Brothers! The zany band focused on older tunes, sometimes going back to the 1920s, presenting them in a free-wheeling, fun-promoting style. Their antics and clever banter may have caused audience belly laughs, but the music itself was taken seriously and well played by these outstanding musicians. You simply have to be good to be able to clown around while still playing that well. All in good fun, the unpredictable Reynolds Brothers are always predictably entertaining.

Harvey Barkan, Valley Jazz Club