The Muddy Basin Ramblers Release Their Fifth Album, "Jug Band Millionaire"

In search of fortune? The Muddy Basin Ramblers have some treasures for you! On JUG BAND MILLIONAIRE, the Ramblers' fifth record, released at the start of 2024, the band pays tribute to the forerunners of jug band music, the fun and down-to-earth musical artform innovated by African-American folk, blues and jazz musicians of the 1920s and 1930s.

JUG BAND MILLIONAIRE was recorded live in studios and outdoor locales in Taipei, Taiwan, throughout 2023. The 14-track album features the Ramblers performing lovingly-crafted, fresh arrangements of classic songs from the early 20s and 30s, including the Memphis Jug Band's "Son Brimmer's Blues," the Dixieland Jug Blowers' "Boodle Am Shake," and "Washboard Cut-Out," by Bobby Leecan and Robert Cooksey.

As the Ramblers see it, the African-American musicians who created these songs are the tried and true "jug band millionaires," a group of talented artists who should be better known. These pioneering minstrels left us some skillfully-made, beautiful music that still brings joy to people around the world today. With JUG BAND MILLIONAIRE, we celebrate these musical heroes.

What makes jug band music? It's often associated with homemade instruments: an empty jug (used to make a sound akin to a tuba), a washboard for percussion, kazoos, and a "washtub bass." It’s also played on whatever conventional instruments are around, whether it's guitars, harmonicas, violins, or pianos.   

The songs' styles were commonly blues, ragtime, folk, a little hillbilly, a little jazz – anything to get folks dancing and in a good mood. The most popular jug bands of the early 20th century came from Memphis, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky, and they played everywhere from house parties and juke joints to political rallies and high-society events.

The Ramblers, formed by a group of US and UK expatriates in Taipei in 2003, have thoroughly adopted this "down-home, DIY spirit" and made something of their own. This earned them a loyal and beloved following in their adopted home of Taiwan.  

On one bonus track available only on the CD, the band also pays tribute to music of their home on "Ihla Formosa." Ramblers' Bandleader David Chen arranged the Taiwanese pop classic from 1938 "Four Seasons of Red"(四季紅) (written by Teng Yu-hsien, lyrics by Li Lin-qiu) in a hybrid style of Caribbean string band music and rocksteady. On this rendition, they are honored to have Golden Melody-winning singer Lo Sirong as guest on lead vocals. 

JUG BAND MILLIONAIRE isn't just a CD. It also comes with a 33-page mini-book that tells the stories and background of the songs and the musicians. And in fine folk music tradition, the book also has sheet music and lyrics for selected songs, so you can play with or sing along with the recording.

Oh yes, the Ramblers are eager to spread the wealth! With Jug Band Millionaire, the Ramblers want to share with their fans and friends in Taiwan some lesser-known but important songs from the vast universe of early 20th century American jazz and blues music. In revisiting this treasure chest of traditional music, the Ramblers are celebrating their artistic roots, with the hope of inspiring anyone and everyone to create their own "JUG BAND DOLLARS!"

CHECK OUT THE CD HERE