Jim Hession / Carolina Shout / James P. Johnson / stride master

[tommymacdonald]

This has got to be one of the most insanley perfect piano solos on youtube. Certainlly the best live performance of this song

[tommymacdonald]

This has got to be one of the most insanley perfect piano solos on youtube. Certainlly the best live performance of this song

[Aahzman26]

very nice :)

[ScottBradleeLovesYa]

Yes!! This piece was the piece that got me into stride piano, and you do an amazing job with it. Great clarity in those tricky passages and swingin'

[grandelfe]

I got the strong feeling you could play this piece fast of slow, or anywhere in between, and always make it swing.You are one of the best ragtime improvisers,.You don't repeat youself much when you play .Your rythem never wavers, and you seem to be able to get yourself out of any situation, just like Art Tatum could.Thanks for sharing these great tunes for us .

[lindyhoppers]

play it smooth and "not fast" - this is a simple point most white American stride performers always miss

[jazznbear]

I note that the "Carolina Shout" you have posted is the piano roll by James P.Johnson- a slower and understandably more mechanical sounding version. I learned the piece when I was a teenager from the recording by Fats Waller-a decidedly different approach, but still stride, fast and exciting. Since you are from Italy perhaps you will post on YouTube some performances by Italian, black or white, stride pianists...I would be interested to hear their approach to this classic American style.

[jazznbear]

I find your definition of "stride" very narrow. Let me suggest that you listen to contemporaries of Johnson and Waller to get a broader perspective: Hank Duncan,Joe Sullivan, Luckey Roberts, Cliff Jackson, Bob Zurke, Donald Lambert, Jess Stacy, Mel Powell, Pete Johnson, Johnny Guarnieri, Joe Turner, Don Ewell, Dill Jones...to name a few.Players a generation older than I:Dick Wellstood, Ralph Sutton and Dick Hyman are all outstanding and unique in their approach.I hope you find this informative.

[lindyhoppers]

this is "Novelty"

Harlem Stride piano is another thing...

[jazznbear]

As someone who was mentored by Eubie Blake,Teddy Wilson and Johnny Guarnieri, I find your comment ODD...from these gentlemen I learned that stride piano uses improvisation,jazz and blues inflections and produces a powerful sense of momentum and swing. Novelty piano style is its classic form does not have improvisation, jazz or blues.Contrast "Kitten on the Keys"(novelty) with "You've Got To Be Modernistic"(Harlem Stride).

[ryanski77]

Lindyhoppers, you are very very very wrong.

[HEADBANGING69]

All I can say is...EPIC. YOU ARE A TRUE TALENT THAT THE WHOLE WORLD MUST HEAR!

[CBasie2856]

I'm having a lot of trouble with the three note crap in the right hand at 00:09 to 00:11.

Tell me something. How are you fingering those?

I'm using the fourth finger on the Bb followed by the G Major chord fingering of 1, 3, and 5. Is that how you're fingering it?

[jazznbear]

Use the 3rd finger on the Bflat leading to the1-2-4-fingering on the G chord. You can use that fingering as the pattern travels down.

[CBasie2856]

What is the difference between a James P. Johnson piece and a Fats Waller piece? What elements do you add to the James P. Johnson style to make it sound more like Fats?

[jazznbear]

Fats Waller, being a student of Johnson's, naturally has similar elements in his style. Without going into too much detail, JPJ's compositions are generally more musically intricate re:voicings, chord progressions and modulations. Waller's compositions,also very inventive, reflected a style with an incredible sense of "swing". This fit his own performances perfectly. Check recordings of both players to see if this makes sense to you.I may have to write a book to spell this all out!

[ajdstrider]

this playing is as good as wellstood, sutton waller,james p ( his version is 1/2 this tempo) and up there with hyman and lhotzky.BUT can you not make a stride cd of this stuff so we can hear it properly?I can't find any solo cd's out there just duo with mrs,I'm not really into jazz vocals-how many tracks are solo? any chance of a solo stride cd _PLEASE!!!!!!!

[jazznbear]

On "Rock Me" there are 9 piano solos; on EBM 6 all of the selections are piano solos except one vocal by Eubie Blake. Martha is producing a series of my solo piano CD's with different themes, at least one of which will feature the classic jazz piano styles.

[jazznbear]

We have just released two new piano solo CDs.

1)"Giants of Stride" 21 piano solos of Fats,JPJ,Lucky Roberts,etc.

2)"Piano Power Plays"- 17solo piano interpretations of major jazz standards by Ellington,Gillespie,Peterson,G­arner,Silver.

If you are interested you can email me via YouTube or our web site.

[HEADBANGING69]

Who  it the dude bopping around behind you??

[jazznbear]

That is Ryan Burrage, the leader of the Rhythmakers at Fritzel's on Bourbon, who did not have the saxophone part to "Carolina Shout" with him that evening and had to sit there patiently for me to answer this request. He's a good guy and a monster talent.

[bugsycline]

You meen white men CAN Jump?

YES they Can!

Proof is in the ears.

[spassgamer]

thats exactly the way how it should be played, you rock

[antvlrs]

Great but the best ever is by fats.but I saw once on TV an incredible version By Willie Smith ..If somebody could send it.,,

[jazznbear]

There is a Youtube version of Willie The Lion playing Carolina Shout....Check the links on my version of "the Lions" Fingerbuster. I learned Carolina Shout in high school from Fats Wallers solo recording. Some pianists prefer to duplicate James P.'s piano roll version or slower recorded version. All well and good-its a great piece if you play it correctly. Thank you.

[antvlrs]

Thanks

As for Jim Hession .He really is one of the last playing stride in the spirit of the 20 s

[saullouis]

James P does it. Its on a Decca release called "Snowy Morning Blues". Its a killer.

[Squarerig]

I am certain that Mozart himself would have immersed himsself in this wonderful music,played by a master of the keys.Having heard this I know that I have not lived in vain!

[jhsture]

Good to see someone that still honours this great jazz piano tradition! Keep the good work up! By the way, your B strain was interesting. Parts of it reminds me of how The Lion would perform it. Not many people play like that.

[jazznbear]

Thank you. The Lion was indeed one of my favorites of the stride pioneers. If I have a chance in the next few weeks perhaps I will add some of the Lion's pieces to my posted vids.

[goofoff1966]

WOW! Close to Fats Waller's version. My biggest fantasy is to play that one song...

[pianojazz4u]

WOW! How many years did it take to learn to play like this? This is amazing, you are amazing. Best recording I'v ever heard of Carolina Shout. You beat the original.

[c8udyp]

You rule! Thanks for posting.