Jim Hession / Snowy Morning Blues/James P. Johnson /stride

http://www.artistopia.com/hessionsession

New piano CD's available as of April,2008



This is one of Johnson's most lyrical piano solos in the stride tradition.Many years ago when Jim and Martha were entertaining at Disneyland, one of the featured Big Bands was that of Duke Ellington. During the Hession's dinner break they went to hear Ellington. Jim cautiously approached the Duke and asked if he would play something by James P. Johnson. Ellington replied, "Delighted, young man" and proceeded to play a flawless solo rendition of "Snowy Morning Blues", while his band looked on. This has remained an incredible memory.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• STRIDE
• Jim
• Hession
• solo
• stride
• jazz
• piano
• James
• P.Johnson
• New
• Orleans
• Snowy
• Morning
• Blues
• master

[shubus]

Wow! Heaven't heard this piece by Johnson before. You do it justice! Must be nice to have hands large enough to play those 10ths without breaking them. Eubie had large hands too. Makes me want to take up a smaller piano! By the way, didn't know you had any blue shirts :)

[jazznbear]

LOL...Surprise..............

[dfranklin70]

This is probably my favorite video of yours. I hear some commonly gospel used progressions and combinations. I was wondering pianist like James P Johnson got inspirations from gospel or if it was the other way around? Also, I have heard that some of Joplin's rags resemble New Orleans folk tunes which predated Joplin, is this true? Anyway, your playing is absolutely WONDERFUL!!!

[jazznbear]

James P Johnson, like so many of the early jazz artists who were raised in or near Harlem, was indeed influenced by gospel(spirituals) that were sung in the churches.JPJ wore many musical hats,including that of accompanist to blues singer, Bessie Smith.

Joplin, although based up the Miss. River in Missouri, may well have been influenced by the music of Louis Gottshalk,an American classical composer,from New Orleans, who was heavily influenced by the Afro/creole music of the mid 1800's.

[msk87]

You are God

[jazznbear]

No, just a hard working professional musician.Glad you are enjoying the videos!

[lauraneville]

I am SO envious...seriously. Good thing that my envy does not stop me from listening to you play over and over and over!! thanks for all of the posts...

[lauraneville]

spectacular!!

[dtimoske]

Great performance of one of my James P Johnson favorites

[brandon1994mc]

This is the best performance on YouTube.  It shows the drive that the other performances here don't

It is wonderful. This man playing is a wonderful player, he knows this music deeply!

[norb44fr]

I like the way Jim Hession plays this masterpiece from James P. It sounds great ! Stride piano style is better than ever , should be more played by the young musicians. Thank you Jim for recording this on youtube for the whole world !

[norb44fr]

You can have it from the San Diego / coronado public Library for almost free.

But if you still don't have it , I can scan the one I have and mail it to you under PDF files format for free. Let me know .

[jake1995k]

I can't get a copy of the New York Stride Piano book for anything less than $200. Is there someone I could buy the sheet music for this music off of? I would pay anything you wanted up to maybe $50. I can't get all the voicings by ear, and it is killing me.

[tregter7]

Fantastic! I'd give it ten stars. My favourite tune.