Album of ragtime, boogie-woogie and stride piano
"Spann's Boogie" from was selected as one of Mark Rheaume's top picks for CBC's Fresh Air show April 2008!
>> Listen to "Spann's Boogie"
If you like what you hear, you can purchase my album digitally or have the CD mailed to you, your choice.
We had a lot of fun recording these tunes. I hope you will hear that in the performances.
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| "Brian H: Your new CD is wonderful! Every track is strong. Your musicianship
borders on brilliant. You are truly amongst Canada's best boogie pianists." |
| More quotes here |
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Little Bird
A day in the life of a little bird. Starts off with a sleepy ballad, has a busy day chirping with all of his buddies and then calls it a night. Spencer Evans on clarinet does a great job conveying the mood of the little bird.
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Happy Cat Rag - see live video from recent concert
My first ragtime composition. Inspired by Scott Joplin. The bluesy intro and walking bass in the middle strain set this apart from traditional ragtime.
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Monday Struggle
Classic Albert Ammons. What’s not to like about the rolling boogie-woogie piano bass that was Ammons' trademark?
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Vitality Rag
Another original influenced by Scott Joplin
and James Scott. This song has lots of vitality!! Selected October 15,
2009 by CBC for their Track of the Day.
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Kidd’s Boogie - see live video from recent concert
My boogie has that 50s influenced sound that the old rock’n’rollers borrowed from the boogie-woogie masters. Tim Roberts doubles up the sax to add to the groove. It's called Kidd's boogie because I've called myself the Ragtime Kidd for several years.
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Possum and Taters
A simple but beautiful piece of Classic piano ragtime written by Charles Hunter in 1901. This style is actually called "folk" ragtime. It's still one of my favourite rags of all time.
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Spann’s Boogie
Otis Spann wrote this boogie in 1964. The addition of bass and drums and my own styling give this catchy tune a different flavour than the original.
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Ragtime Nightmare
A pure novelty rag written by Tom Turpin in 1901. Turpin wrote many catchy rags. Bob Arlidge adds bass and Gary Barratt adds drums to give this rag an excellent grove. My favourite rag to play!
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Farewell to Riverside - see live video from recent concert
I’ve always loved Errol Garner’s version of this Joe Sullivan stride piano composition. I added the extra instrumentation and changed the feel slightly. I really enjoy playing this song!
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Let’em Jump - see live video from recent concert
Pete Johnson's stride piano style is what I consider the forerunner of rock’n’roll.
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December
December is a quiet ballad with piano, cello and bass. This melody came to me in my living room during a gentle December snowfall with large flakes floating down around the house. It was haunting at the time. Jess Lindeman's cello fills the room full of sound.
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Ragtime Jalopy - see live video from recent concert
My first novelty piano rag. The Jalopy starts its engine and then putts along with a few honks along the way. Gary Barrat adds the Jalopy horns while he's drumming. Hope you like it!
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Nightingale Rag
A very Chopinesque rag written by Joseph Lamb in 1915. Classic ragtime at it's finest. Unlike other rags at that time, I thought this would be a perfect way to close off the album.
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Other recordings
In my early years I performed
in a duo called Doctor Drums and the Ragtime
Kidd.
We did everything from boat cruises,
business functions, dances, birthdays, political events and backyard
BBQs.
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