"Step It Up" -- Tom Brier, piano; Andrew Barrett, washboard

[wilscool]

I really like the last few bars of the A theme of this one.  Very original and tasteful! Oh, and not to mention the Wonderful piano playing and wachboarding. :P

-Will

[aaron12345432]

I especially enjoyed the third strain of this piece

[FranSpain]

what kind of wood block has Andrew in his washboard? I can't find anything that sounds good for mine!!!

[KawhackitaRag]

Dear FranSpain, the woodblock on my washboard is from an old Noble and Cooley toy drum set I had when I was a kid (the kind with the springs to tension the drumheads). I gave away the rest of the set, but for some reason kept the block. The tone hole on the side was just a narrow slit, maybe 1/4" or so, and thus it had a very poor tone, so my uncle (who is a woodworker) enlarged it using a chisel, to about 5/8" wide, being careful not to split the wood. Now it sounds nice and loud!

[idasynco]

In the key of W, I love it! *****

[sunshinecapers]

This is a fine Brier Novelty... I think I like Treble Trouble better, but this one has a great catchy-ness, and the stepping up at the end of the A-strain is very innovative. Certainly Brier is one of the finest contemporary composers, and this piece is much better than a lot of novelties from the era. I remember being in the audience for this one and having a smile a mile wide. Tom's novelties make life worth living..=P By the way Ron, if you see Tom, tell him I really like this piece.

[KawhackitaRag]

Tom has such a great melodic sense, it's incredible! I think that is the hardest thing to develop as a composer and a musician, and the whole key to writing and playing good music.

[theragtimefan]

I love the way that board thing sounds!!!