PORK & BEANS - RAGTIME TWO STEP (BENNETT, 1909)

When Theron Bennett composed "Pork and Beans" in 1909, it was a moderate success for publisher Victor Kremer. Bennett could not have known that about four years later, Charles "Luckey" Roberts would compose and publish a rag by the same title. It's quite possible that during the era, "Pork and Beans" was a bigger sheet music hit than the Roberts tune - but throughout the decades that followed, Luckey's "Pork and Beans" would become one of the most stylistically influential and important pieces in all of jazz piano - particularly as it related to the school of Harlem piano. James P. Johnson, Willie the Lion Smith, Eubie Blake, Donald Lambert, and countless others all played Roberts' "Pork and Beans" and it arguably represented the earliest commercial notation of the stride piano style.
Bennett also could not have known that 99 years later, Weezer - one of the most insipid, jejune rock bands of the Y2K era - would also have a major hit song with the same titles. I once attended a Weezer concert as a guest - an unforgettable experience, try as one might...
This "Pork and Beans" is a fine, conventional rag. It was first recorded by Knocky Parker, on his "Golden Treasury of Ragtime" series. In this series, Knocky made extensive use of celeste, and harpsichord in addition to piano, to varying degrees of success. His use of celeste in the trio of "Pork and Beans" is quite effective; Jasen and Tichenor comment that the rather tranquil trio of this piece is ideally suited to string band.

[@wheelmanmitch]

Just pure delight! Love your enthusiasm Vincent. The music really shines here.

[@SquidzYT]

Lovely performance!

[@aldothaler]

Awesome!

[@terrotorotbart8319]

Truth be told, I did think of the Luckey Roberts piece at first when I read the title - but this is a fantastic rag! This might be my favourite of Theron C Bennett's pieces so far.

[@MrSunnyuber]

Great work Vincent.

[@RS-gl9ht]

Great tune thank you - I love it when one of your posts appears!

[@NoveltyPiano]

Glad you are enjoying the postings!

[@Remi-B-Goode]

Very cool, ur style is a bit different than before, it is surely that u r using this grand piano differently and in a 'stronger' way

[@NoveltyPiano]

I think I approach different "styles" of rags differently - going to play this rag in a more loud and playful way than a Joplin rag. Some of it is also probably the piano!