Riverhead’s Old Time Jam Band’s music is ‘upbeat, happy’ — and contagious

On a recent Thursday evening in the basement craft room of the Riverhead Free Library, came the sounds of a dozen musicians getting ready to practice and play together acoustically as the Old Time Jam Band. The group focuses on historical Appalachian dance tunes whose rhythm, melody and roots have a Scottish, African, English and Irish origin.   

With guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin or bass in hand, seated in a circle facing each other, the performers played different bits of songs as they warmed up, producing a cacophony of the various instruments. The informal band has many levels of experience — beginners up to experts — all passionate about reproducing songs from a by-gone era. 

Four of the band members this evening are women.  Theresa Dilworth has been part of the band for almost four years. “It’s organized and we have 300 tunes to choose from. It’s so welcoming,” said Dilworth, holding her five-string, closed back banjo. “There’s a pool of 50 of us and it’s not always the same people who come to jam,” she said. With its narrower neck, her banjo has a louder sound, Dilworth said. 

Once everyone warmed up, all eyes were on band leader/organizer Toni Kaste. She glanced at her set list and asked, “Ready, ready?” She played a few notes on her violin and everyone started playing the band’s warm-up song, “Angeline the Baker,” their feet tapping under their chairs. 

Most had easels in front of them holding sheet music or an iPad. Others didn’t need either; they played each song by memory.  There was no singing that evening; all of the tunes were instrumental. A few band members were swaying slightly to the rhythm while playing music in their seats. 

Strumming and picking at their instruments, they played “Ragtime Annie,” “Flop Eared Mule,” and “Soldier’s Joy,” among other old-time tunes. The songs could be part of the set list Saturday when the troupe performs at the Southold Winterfest.

This genre of music, which dates back to the 1600s, can be found on Spotify and Apple Music, although it takes some searching. 

The band members are trying to keep this toe–tapping music alive because it’s not commonly heard on Long Island. It’s been passed down from generation to generation by old time fiddlers who would learn it by ear, recreate what they heard and keep it as authentic as the original sound. Kaste added that her group is the only one of its kind on Long Island.   

“It’s very much like mountain music. It’s considered to be ‘old time music’ which is upbeat, happy music. Occasionally people will get up and dance. More kids get up and dance because they’re uninhibited. Absolutely people tap their feet. Some even tap their canes,” said Kaste.  

“I never read music. I play by ear. I started by playing the fiddle and both the mandolin and fiddle are tuned the same way,” said Rocky Divello of Mattituck, strumming his mandolin. He would keep switching between the three instruments during the evening. 

“I always bought violins at yard sales and said someday I will learn to play one. And when I turned 55, I watched videos online and I learned to play,” Divello said.

Band member Neil Saccamano was playing the only wind instrument: the Irish tin penny whistle, similar to a flute, fife or a piccolo. “It’s an inexpensive instrument and I always keep a few in my car in case the kids step on one or the dog bites it,”  Saccamano said.

He’s been part of the ensemble for 5 to 10 years because of the type of music they play. “There are two types of music, he said. “The music you like and then there’s unwanted noise.”

Sitting behind the circle were four people who made up the audience that evening.

“My husband needs cheering up because we’ve been on a medical merry go round since the fall because of his health,” said Jeannie Merwin of her spouse, Gaius. “He said it’s too cold to go out tonight, but I said, let’s go. He loves the music and it’ll make him feel good,”  she said.

Smiling, Merwin said the band’s music is “pure, raw and it’s like folk music.” 

Another audience member, Ray Partlow, a groupie of sorts, said he’s been coming to the jam sessions for years. “It’s nice, cheerful, and upbeat. It’s very enjoyable.”

About an hour into the practice session, two more musicians carried their instruments in and jumped right into the song seamlessly. The group, according to Kaste, is free flowing; anyone can join in at any time.

Sometimes five people show up to jam; sometimes it’s 20, she said. The number varies each time.

The library hosts the group twice a month and there are also practices held at the Hallockville Museum farm which is where Kaste began her journey with the group. 

“I showed up one day to listen because I love everything historical and I fell in love with the music,” Kaste said. She’s a weaver, works on a spinning wheel and also cooks following historical recipes. At that time, a few years ago, Kaste played the flute, but was told by the band members that that wasn’t a historical instrument.  “I decided to play the fiddle. I wanted to be part of the band so bad,” she said.

It was challenging, she admitted, because she didn’t play well, but the group was welcoming. “They gave me ideas as to where to find the music and they were so encouraging,” she recalled.

The band gets requests to play at various historical societies and festivals. 

“We usually play at events six times a year and every so often our members will show up in historical garb,” Kaste said. 

Most of the musicians are retired, 50 and over, but occasionally younger people show up ready to play classical cello or fiddle. “We welcome everyone, even if it’s a child. Any age is welcome,” she said.

Sometimes members come up with unique ways to produce music. 

“We have someone who will play spoons or what we call ‘shaky eggs’ which is an egg filled with sand and you click them together. Kind of like a maraca without a stem, it’s a percussion instrument,” Kaste said.

She added that some musicians, like Rocky, carry them and offer them to people in the audience to join in with the band. Occasionally a band member has brought wooden Heritage musical spoons which are similar to a kitchen tong. “They will click together if you hit them on your hand or leg,” said Kaste. 

Missing from the evening was the scratchy sound of someone playing the washboard. Maybe at the next jam.