Jim Hession / Perfect Rag / Jelly Roll Morton

[slackmaster2000]

The version of Sporting House Rag I heard was on some Jelly Roll compilation CD and isn't available on youtube ( much like the good version of The Crave). Maybe someone else might know the name of that CD.

[Squarerig]

JPJohnson.A sporting house is,or was,a euphemism for a brothel,whorehouse,bordel,stew or whatever else you wish to call it.The music is wonderful isn't it?And Mr.Hession with his eight hands is the master of the music.

[JamesPriceJohnson]

this song is also called sporting house rag. i love his recording of it, do u know what a sporting house is?

[CBasie2856]

Do you know where I can get more recordings of Fats playing Handful Of Keys other than the most well known recording that everyone knows?

[jazznbear]

Not offhand. If I have the opportunity I will go through our collections of Waller recordings and see what I can find.

[CBasie2856]

Is this performance more based on stride than Jelly Roll Morton?

[jazznbear]

No. Check out etude91's audio of Perfect Rag,as performed by Morton. The improvisations begin following the initial statements and repeats of the A,B,and C sections.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Why Is Ti Always So Dark With This Upright? Its Hard To See The Hammers.

[jazznbear]

The focus of the video was the keyboard; the hammers just come along for the ride.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Ya, Your Right About That; I Just Try Focus On The Music, But Mostly Try To Watch The Hammers Because Its Hard For Me To Convince Myself That My Any Pair Of Hands Aren't Better Than Mine.

[etude91]

Do you know where you can get sheets for this? This is awesome!

[jazznbear]

I have played this great Morton piece since I was in high school. I think that I learned it off of a Jelly Roll recording. It is possible that it can be found in one of the Morton collections in New Orleans. Martha and I are heading there to do some digging for some of our projects. I will look for a manuscript of Perfect Rag when we are there. Will get back atcha!

[etude91]

Thanks!

[jmfjs]

Le Smithsonian Institution Press G. SCHIRMER (Washinhton D.C) distribue un gros et très interessant volume sur les partitions de Jelly Roll Morton , parmi lesquelles 2 versions de Perfect Rag, lequel est connu aussi sous le nom de Sporting House Rag. Je l'ai acheté de France sans aucun probleme sur un site américain spécialisé dans ce genre de partition. Il n'est pas difficile à trouver.

[jazznbear]

I am still looking for a transcription of Perfect Rag for you.........the music collection that I looked in was quite disappointing......so the search continues.

[CBasie2856]

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton: The Collected Piano Music: Piano Solo (Paperback)

Doesn't this have true transcriptions of Jelly Roll Morton pieces?

[jazznbear]

If this is the book by James Dapogny, it has an excellent reputation. However, I don't have a copy and have not seen this collection so I can't give you a definitive answer. My "arrangements" are based on Morton's recordings and improvisations in that style. Morton himself was highly improvisational if you look at multiple recordings over the years. I have incorporated many ideas directly from Morton that I have not seen in written arrangements.

[CBasie2856]

There are only a few other books out there with sheet music for the stride pianist to learn. At the top of my head, here's a few:

Thomas "Fats" Waller: The Great Solos, 1929-1941

Harlem Stride Piano Solos/F0693 (Paperback)

I don't know if you're aware of these, but those are the ones I can come up with.

[jazznbear]

Two of the most recent stride books are:

1. Harlem Stride Piano Solos (transcribed by

Riccardo Scivales-1990) ISBN# 0-943748-43-7.

2.JAZZ, BLUES BOOGIE and SWING for PIANO(1977-edited by Ronny Schiff.)

I have not myself seen a copy of Thomas "Fats" Waller:The Great Solos,1929-1941but would certainly like to take a look at it. We have long collected original music associated with Waller, Morton, Johnson, Smith, Roberts, etc as well as original manuscripts. Always room for more!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shimrra1]

Let me tell you, even if you spent your entire life getting as good as you are now, it was worth it. Congratulations. Oh, and by the way, I watched the video of you playing J.R.M.'s Fingerwrecker at least 5 times in a row. Simply amazing.

[jazznbear]

Thank you! Most of these solos I have played since I was in high school. None the less I enjoy the challenge of constantly reinventing the classic piano solos while hopefully remaining true to their original concepts.

[Squarerig]

An amazing pianist who plays with verve and precision.Each piece is a tour de force on the keys.

[jazznbear]

Thank you for your kind comment! I never stop trying to make every performance musically sound, inventive and relevant.

[thepman366]

This is the best piano piece i've eva heard! Dang that dude's tight!