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The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0093074081228
Label: Smithsonian Folkways
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways
MPN: 40812
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Smithsonian Folkways
Release Date: September 24, 1996
Studio: Smithsonian Folkways
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Editorial Review:
When James P. Johnson made these solo recordings for Moe Asch's Folkways label, Asch gave him the freedom to record what he wished. The pianist took the opportunity to document some pre-jazz piano music, a few favorite tunes, some improvised blues, and piano reductions of his own unperformed concert works. It's a remarkable release, including among the early piano music Jesse Pickett's "The Dream," Scott Joplin's "Euphonic Sounds," and two blues by W.C. Handy. While Johnson's ambitions to mount an indigenous concert music, one melding jazz and ragtime rhythms with classical forms, were frustrated, you'd never know it from these vibrant performances of "Yamekraw--A Negro Rhapsody," "Jazzamine Concerto," and a fragment from "Jungle Drums." The 1996 CD issue includes eight previously unissued tracks. --Stuart Broomer
Seventy-four minutes of solo piano from the father of Harlem stride piano. Includes eight previously unreleased tracks, including Yamekraw and Jazzamine Concerto. 20 vibrant performances, including Joplin and Handy, a Gershwin hit, and Johnson's own compositions-1917 Classic rags, a 1923 show tune, newly discovered blues improvisations, and three of his pioneering "third stream" symphonic works. 28-page booklet contains wonderful reproductions of the original LP covers, historical and biographical annotation on the period, the artist, and the songs. Reissued from Folkways 2850. "It was me, or maybe Fats, who say down to warm up the piano. After that, James took over. Then you got real invention-magic, sheer magic." - Duke Ellington
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Creme de la creme
Beautiful! And beautifully presented, annotated, remastered...everything. By the way, I' d also like to hear the Asch Carolina Balmoral, but as far as I know, it remains unissued (the Blue Note one is awesome!). Jazzamine Concerto (which reappears, in part, at the end of the CD as Blues For Jimmy) is as deep as Stride gets. Such a great composition, and so movingly (not perfectly) played. The CD will explain why Johnson was considered the Dean. Waller is a more note-perfect pianist, with a unique ... Read More
Rating:  - Big Jim's Left hand
I found out about James P. Johnnson just recently and I'm a senior. Wow! This album has better sound than some others and a real long serious number which was later orchestrated. Johnson's playing is pure magic, as Duke Ellington says, and if you play piano yourself, you must hear his left hand! Never too much or too little, always supportive of the top line and always just right. Maybe I'm just in the first flush of enthusiasm about this guys stuff, but this makes me want a time machine. I'da ... Read More
Rating: - Essential Piano Jazz
James P. Johnson is one of the most influential and neglected figues in 20th century American music. Best known as the teacher of Fats Waller, he was the composer of "Charleston", THE song that exemplified the 1920s, a writer of serious orchestral works, a magnificent accompanist of Bessie Smith and others, and the leading figure in the Harlem stride piano style. As such, he influenced Ellington, Basie and Thelonious Monk amongst others.
He recorded extensively, but for a long time ... Read More
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