A great introduction to the master of stride piano
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 08/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"James P.Johnson,born around 1891,was a master of stride piano.And maybe the first one to leave the old ragtime playing to enter into that new way of playing, called "stride".His roots are certainly in ragtime, as you can listen to in "fascination rag";his peers were Scott Joplin,James Scott,Charley Thompson and Tom Turpin; but in New York City,he created a new way of playing,that has to be followed by many musicians.James P. taught playing piano to Duke,Fats and Count, just to name a few. And Joe Turner,too. And he lived until 1955,and gave us many recordings.This 16 tracks record is a perfect introduction to the greatness of James P.Johnson;on 11 tracks,James P. plays solo piano; on the remaining tracks, he is backed by great musicians like Red Allen,Gene Sedric,Sid Catlett,J.C.Higginbotham.The solo tracks are absolute great stride music.Listen to "the mule walk","blueberry rhyme","how could I be blue":in a blindfold test,wouldn't you have answered "Fats Waller"? Now,just a few words by Duke Ellington about James P.: "those doors flew open.Lights switched on.Cupboards emptied,and everyone took a little taste.Then it was me,or maybe Fats,who sat down to warm up the piano.After that,James took over.Then you got real invention - magic,sheer magic.James he was to his friends,just James,not Jimmy,nor James P.There never was another.""
LWD
L. W. Dean | S. Glastonbury, CT USA | 07/07/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Granted that James P. Johnson was a giant of jazz, but this CD is poorly done and does not do him the justice he deserves. In my opinion, a one star rating is liberal. The first seven tracks are piano solos. The problem is that the high frequency content is so poorly done that the result is very distracting. Track 8, a piano duet, is much better. Tracks 9 through 13 are recordings with orchestra. As with other poorly done restorations, the rhythm section provides a very muddy background through which the piano slogs, and the result is not good. Tracks 14 and 15 are poorly recorded piano rolls. Track 16, Carolina Shout, is the one highlight of the album."
Original Okeh and Columbia recordings - not piano rolls!
randysrodeo.com | Austin, Texas | 01/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"1. If Dreams Come True (1939)
2. Fascination (1939)
3. Lonesome Reverie (1939)
4. Mule Walks (1939)
5. Blueberry Rhyme (1939)
6. Snowy Morning Blues (1927)
7. All That I Had Is Gone (1927)
8. How Could I Be Blue (1927)
9. Swingin' At The Lido (1939)
10. Havin' A Ball (1939)
11. Hungry Blues (1930)
12. Old Fashioned Love (1939)
13. Memories Of You (1939)
14. Worried And Lonesome Blues (1923)
15. Weeping Blues (1923)
16. Carolina Shout (1921)"
