The Ragtime River Rats was formed in 2015 to combine the talents of bandleaders Rick Jobe and Geno Haffner with veteran bass player Avent Lane. They provide a wonderful mixture of traditional New Orleans, Delta and Chicago blues with the kind of swing that made Kansas City jump in the 1930s.


Geno leads the well known Nashville ensemble, the Dean Martinis, and plays a mean, rollicking piano, reminiscent of Art Tatum and Jellyroll Morton. 


Avent Lane holds down a deeply satisfying string bass line that has graced the likes of Roland Gresham.


Rick Jobe adds the  vocals, clarinet and archtop guitar that combines  Nat King Cole with Sidney Bechet and Freddie Green! His forays into Delta blues on lap steel guitar and BB King licks on electric, complete the history of blues that is great for blues dancing. 

Swinging out on the great music of the early 20th century is second nature to this new legendary band.