James P Johnson the Pianist
Donald Macleod delves into the period James P Johnson becomes both a piano legend and a teacher.
Donald Macleod delves into the period James P Johnson becomes both a piano legend and teacher to the future stars of the jazz world.
James P Johnson is known as the Father of Stride Piano, and composed the most iconic work that captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties, the Charleston. Both pianist and composer, he not only wrote jazz but also music for theatrical shows, symphonic works and opera too. He performed alongside jazz greats such as Fats Waller, Willie the Lion Smith and Sidney Bechet, and also collaborated with George Gershwin as well. Johnson was an early pioneer in the recording industry, and made many studio recordings as a soloist and with his own jazz band. Yet despite all of this, his name has been largely forgotten today. One possible reason for this is that being a transitional figure between ragtime and jazz, he鈥檚 been hard to categorise. Each day in this series, Donald Macleod will explore a period in Johnson鈥檚 life where Johnson strove to achieve a different role: recording artist, theatre composer, performer and teacher, and also a tickler - a ragtime saloon pianist.
Johnson was now becoming more interested in music for the theatre, both as a composer and performer. As a pianist he would pick up tunes other pianists played and try them himself, experimenting with them with different harmonies and developing a technique of his own. He鈥檇 already been studying some of the greats of classical music, and so when performing in clubs and saloons, he鈥檇 suddenly introduce to his rags chromatic octaves and glissandos up and down with both hands, so that his skill as a pianist was soon in demand. He also formed his own band, the Jimmie Johnson Trio, although there was some resistance to the kind of jazz they performed. His prowess as a pianist would lead him to collaborate with some of the great rising stars of the day, including Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith, and the star-struck Fats Waller sought out Johnson to be his teacher.
Charleston
Dick Hyman Dance Band
Alabama Stomp
Marty Grosz and the Hot Winds
My Headache
Marty Grosz and the Hot Winds
My special friend is back in town
Ethel Waters, vocal
J. C. Johnson, piano
Lonesome Swallow
Ethel Waters, vocal
James P. Johnson, piano
Guess who鈥檚 in town
Ethel Waters, vocal
James P. Johnson, piano
Victory Stride
The Concordia Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor
Drums
The Concordia Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor
Harlem Strut
James P. Johnson, piano
Snowy Morning Blues
James P. Johnson, piano
Keep off the grass
James P. Johnson, piano
Havin鈥� a ball
Fats Waller and His Rhythm
A Porter鈥檚 Love Song to a Chambermaid
Fats Waller and His Rhythm
Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 大象传媒 Wales
Last on
Music Played
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James Price Johnson
Charleston
Ensemble: Dick Hyman Dance Band.- LP CBS4508641.
- LP.
- 1.
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James Price Johnson
Alabama Stomp
Ensemble: Marty Grosz And The Hot Winds.- Arbors ARCD19427.
- Arbors.
- 5.
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James Price Johnson
My Headache
Performer: Marty Grosz And The Hot Winds.- Arbors ARCD19427.
- Arbors.
- 10.
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James Price Johnson
My Special Friend Is Back In Town
Performer: J C Johnson. Singer: Ethel Waters.- Classics 688.
- Classics.
- 5.
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James Price Johnson
Lonesome Swallow
Performer: James P. Johnson. Singer: Ethel Waters.- Classics 688.
- Classics.
- 15.
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James Price Johnson
Guess Who's In Town
Performer: James P. Johnson. Singer: Ethel Waters.- Classics 688.
- Classics.
- 16.
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James Price Johnson
Victory Stride
Ensemble: Concordia. Conductor: Marin Alsop. -
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James Price Johnson
Drums
Orchestra: Concordia Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.- NIMBUS : NI2745.
- NIMBUS.
- 9.
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James Price Johnson
Harlem Strut
Performer: James P. Johnson.- Classics 658.
- Classics.
- 1.
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James Price Johnson
Snowy Morning Blues
Performer: James P. Johnson.- Classics 658.
- Classics.
- 14.
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James Price Johnson
Keep Of The Grass
Performer: James P. Johnson.- Classics 658.
- Classics.
- 2.
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James Price Johnson
Havin' A Ball
Ensemble: Fats Waller and His Rhythm.- Bluebird 07863660832.
- Bluebird.
- 1.
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James Price Johnson
A Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid
Ensemble: Fats Waller and His Rhythm.- ASV CDAJA5040.
- ASV.
- 11.
Broadcast
- Tue 10 Nov 2020 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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