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The Neglected Professor
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Barnes and Noble
The Neglected Professor
Current price: $16.99
Barnes and Noble
The Neglected Professor
Current price: $16.99
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A case could be made for
being one of the greatest early period pianists, ranking right up there with
,
, and
. These original
label sessions of released and several previously unreleased
house-party recordings show the diverse approach that
used, from ragtime and barrelhouse to swing and straight blues.
is know for having beaten
in a competition in 1916, and for his unique technique of playing the piano palms up. Sound quality on these sides is acceptable. These 26 tracks are mostly two-minute ditties. There are three takes of his famous
using good energy and staggered syncopation. You get the
and
(plus alternate take) using
-type uppity stride, a boogie-inflected or tango-tinged
and a pair of great two-beat stride,
-timed
renditions.
is a classic that was written in 1964 for St. Louis, with
refrains. The similarly epic
has small arpeggiated figures, while
is a solid, deliberate rag. Contrasting motions crop up on the languid yet impatient moments of
while
is at once lilting and racehorse-like. Also featured are the blues, stride, and two-beat in the spousal tribute
and the reverential,
-styled
Hard staccato chords with boogie inform
whereas unrelenting energy and precision is evidenced during
is a near tango,
is romping and free wheeling,
offers a delicate two beat, and
sounds like it's from a different session -- much longer (a whopping four minutes), slower, darker, and sonically muddier. The three most unusual tracks are
aka
with a tinkling bridge and an intro story concerning prohibition;
signified by the whistled, vocalized, hand-clapped, and distorted MC (
?); and the second to fourth gear-shifted
drowned by the noise of a gabby crowd. Yes,
is neglected and nestled in obscurity, but this CD might turn some heads and change some minds. Recommended, especially for early piano lovers. ~ Michael G. Nastos