Good lord. Viper's Drag is fantastic. Fingerbuster is beyond belief. I play that one and I know how hard it is... even though they're just single notes in the right hand, and the fingering is not impossible, it is still very difficult to play the melody so evenly at anywhere close to this tempo. Major kudos. Then the Tatum... that is just too much, man.
Of the above-mentioned, Clarence Johnson is the hardest one of all to find since so little of his work has been reissued at present. Most of his reputation rests on over 200 piano rolls he made from about 1922-1933 (he died in 1933). His few audio recordings, all accompanying female blues singers, simply intensify this reputation, proving that he really DID play that way "live".
My Pop Tony Sanso had the left hand Stride happening in his sets as he was an entertainer between 1958-2014 He would have each set with about 30 songs,but only playing the first verse and chorus to each number and maybe 1 song for 4 minutes like something from Rodger's and Hammerstein. In the middle of some solos he was playing Stride
Two of James P. Johnson's early influences included Luckey Roberts and Frederick M. Bryan, who was known as "The Harmony King". I would guess about 3/4 of Luckey's recordings are currently available, which is pretty good. Bryan never recorded or made piano rolls to my knowledge, however a couple of his rags were published, notably "The Bell Hop Rag" and "The Sugar Lump" AKA "Sunset Rag".
Some other notable pianists influenced by James P. Johnson include: in New York: Lemuel Fowler and Fred Longshaw in Chicago: Jimmy Blythe and Clarence Johnson in St. Louis: Charley Thompson and DeLoise Searcy in Dallas: Rob Cooper. I recommend checking out all their stuff, generally available in reissue.
I can recommend some vintage stride pianists also: two of the very best were Donald Lambert and Cliff Jackson. Although there is many hours worth of home recordings of Lambert in existence (some poor-quality, but worth it for the music), only a tiny fraction of this trove has been released on LP and CD to the general public. However, Cliff Jackson's stuff is well-represented on a nice CD on the Classics label. Of course don't forget the acknowledged master of the style, James P. Johnson.
When they say different masters brought something truly special to the table, you could really say that about everyone. Fats Waller brought impossibly impeccable swing and counter point that was like a warm hug, Willie "The Lion" Smith brought monstrous vertical quartal voicings and bold dissonance, Lambert brought that impregnable fortress of a left hand (spanning a 15th), Cliff Jackson brought this wild ease of speed, Ralph Sutton married the delicate left hand of Waller and the choice dissonance of The Lion, and on and on and on. Today probably the two masters that will be remembered forever (thanks to the internet) are already likely to be Louis Mazetier and Francois Rilhac (who took his life far too early) - Rilhac marries the boldness of Lambert's rhythm and Johnson's gargantuan right hand, and Mazetier has taken Rilhac's speed with Johnson's insane ability to reharmonize turnarounds.
to the person who said "he rushes" this is partly explainable by the exigencies of commercial television, IOW he had to walk fast to fit the "lesson" into the timeslot.
Yes. Contemporary pianists who play good stride include Louis Mazetier, Paul Asaro, and Bernd Lhotzky. Ralph Sutton and Dick Wellstood were two other good ones who passed away fairly recently. Bob Wright played excellent stride, but he is very under-recorded.
I meant the opening riff of "Finger Buster". (C-F-A-C-A-F-E-Eb-D etc) Do you have ears? Do you need me to send you the sheet music? I could have a friend of mine scan it in so you can see it on paper! I'd love to hear you play this; I am not good enough on it to post a video to UA-cam yet, plus it is still under copyright and I am leery of posting any post-1922 copyright material I didn't write or co-write (or get express permission from the composer to post!).
I am very impressed of the Tatum version. This brings Hyman among the greatest pianists...
Good lord. Viper's Drag is fantastic. Fingerbuster is beyond belief. I play that one and I know how hard it is... even though they're just single notes in the right hand, and the fingering is not impossible, it is still very difficult to play the melody so evenly at anywhere close to this tempo. Major kudos. Then the Tatum... that is just too much, man.
So beautiful
Of the above-mentioned, Clarence Johnson is the hardest one of all to find since so little of his work has been reissued at present. Most of his reputation rests on over 200 piano rolls he made from about 1922-1933 (he died in 1933). His few audio recordings, all accompanying female blues singers, simply intensify this reputation, proving that he really DID play that way "live".
Un Grande GENIO ! Oltre il Pianoforte esegue con la tastiera, UNA GRANDE ORCHESTRA !!!
My Pop Tony Sanso had the left hand Stride happening in his sets as he was an entertainer between 1958-2014 He would have each set with about 30 songs,but only playing the first verse and chorus to each number and maybe 1 song for 4 minutes like something from Rodger's and Hammerstein. In the middle of some solos he was playing Stride
Thanks for sharing. Great memories
Tatum says: Dick Hyman was the only pianist tht have the Talent to play his pieces.
That's not true. Tatum called Johnny Costa "the white tatum"
Oscar Peterson. Tatum group masterpieces volume 7 and 8.
Even if it is just an impression of Art Tatum, so he claims, it's a pretty darn good one.
So beautiful ♥️
Two of James P. Johnson's early influences included Luckey Roberts and Frederick M. Bryan, who was known as "The Harmony King". I would guess about 3/4 of Luckey's recordings are currently available, which is pretty good. Bryan never recorded or made piano rolls to my knowledge, however a couple of his rags were published, notably "The Bell Hop Rag" and "The Sugar Lump" AKA "Sunset Rag".
Some other notable pianists influenced by James P. Johnson include:
in New York: Lemuel Fowler and Fred Longshaw
in Chicago: Jimmy Blythe and Clarence Johnson
in St. Louis: Charley Thompson and DeLoise Searcy
in Dallas: Rob Cooper.
I recommend checking out all their stuff, generally available in reissue.
Why do I like Dick Hyman's impression of Art Tatum better than Tatum's recording of his own playing of the piece?
very very good!!!!
This is inhuman!No normal hands can do this.A tour de force from a master of music.
I can recommend some vintage stride pianists also: two of the very best were Donald Lambert and Cliff Jackson. Although there is many hours worth of home recordings of Lambert in existence (some poor-quality, but worth it for the music), only a tiny fraction of this trove has been released on LP and CD to the general public. However, Cliff Jackson's stuff is well-represented on a nice CD on the Classics label. Of course don't forget the acknowledged master of the style, James P. Johnson.
When they say different masters brought something truly special to the table, you could really say that about everyone. Fats Waller brought impossibly impeccable swing and counter point that was like a warm hug, Willie "The Lion" Smith brought monstrous vertical quartal voicings and bold dissonance, Lambert brought that impregnable fortress of a left hand (spanning a 15th), Cliff Jackson brought this wild ease of speed, Ralph Sutton married the delicate left hand of Waller and the choice dissonance of The Lion, and on and on and on.
Today probably the two masters that will be remembered forever (thanks to the internet) are already likely to be Louis Mazetier and Francois Rilhac (who took his life far too early) - Rilhac marries the boldness of Lambert's rhythm and Johnson's gargantuan right hand, and Mazetier has taken Rilhac's speed with Johnson's insane ability to reharmonize turnarounds.
Cliff Jackson
MAn he's a gift from god
Which version of Tatum's "Tea for Two" does he play in 7:30?
He plays his own take on Tatum's 1955 recording of Tea For Two, but in a way that makes Tatum's devices more digestable.
I thought regular walking tenths were hard enough but playing 10ths in stride pattern makes me wish my hands were much bigger
@ 5:53 Look at he little girls head as she tries to follow is left hand lol
Se ascoltate la finale, il brano (te' per due) troverete IL GENIO DEL PIANOFORTE che ha Costruito un FENOMENALE CAPOLAVORO !!!
The master.
Where i can download notes "Viper Drag - Fats Waller ?
to the person who said "he rushes" this is partly explainable by the exigencies of commercial television, IOW he had to walk fast to fit the "lesson" into the timeslot.
Yes. Contemporary pianists who play good stride include Louis Mazetier, Paul Asaro, and Bernd Lhotzky. Ralph Sutton and Dick Wellstood were two other good ones who passed away fairly recently. Bob Wright played excellent stride, but he is very under-recorded.
Where is Donald Lambert Mr. Hyman???
Viper' s drago fats Waller
I meant the opening riff of "Finger Buster". (C-F-A-C-A-F-E-Eb-D etc)
Do you have ears?
Do you need me to send you the sheet music? I could have a friend of mine scan it in so you can see it on paper!
I'd love to hear you play this; I am not good enough on it to post a video to UA-cam yet, plus it is still under copyright and I am leery of posting any post-1922 copyright material I didn't write or co-write (or get express permission from the composer to post!).
he kind of rushes through the tunes, not really making them flourish like james p. for example...