Ralph Sutton - Fussin'

Because of a better adjustment of the pickup, the audio quality is quite ok now.
Enjoy!

Piano: Ralph Sutton
Drums: Cliff Leeman
Recorded on 3. June 1953 in NYC

Liner notes:

"I have heard some guy playing Waller records on the air one day, and i thought: that's the way to play the piano!" That's how Ralph Sutton became one of the most obvious and one of the greatest Waller desciples to play since the death of the master in 1943. At that time he was still in his late 'teens and in the army. Since then Waller has always been his idol., although he has paid equal attention to early ragtime and has lately developed a style that is more obviously his own. He expands on the above statement by replying to a question to what kind of piano playing he prefers: "I like to keep it swinging - not strained - and keep it happy". That just about sums up the music to be heard on this record. This is the music with the obvious Waller influence, certainly swinging and exhibiting a wonderful techinque.

In june 1952, at the invitation of the National Federation of Jazz ORganisations of Great Britan, Ralph came over to this country with Lonnie Johnson to play in a Jazz concert at the RoyalFestival Hall. This was the first time in 14 years that an American jazz musician had played in England with any sort of official sanction. An audience of 4,000 flocked to hear these men, and it was a memorable occasion.

Ralph Sutton was born on November 4th, 1922, in the Missouri village of Hamburg, a hamlet of about 100 people. In his youth he studied classical music (which he still loves to play); he says he learned it while his mother stood over him with a metronome. He often played dance music at night with his father's country band while he was also studying musik at Kirksville State Teacher's College in Missouri. After gaining a local reputation, Ralph was heard by Jack Teagarden and was asked to join the Teagarden band. Two months later he was drafted into the army and it was two years before he returned to civillian life and picked up the musical career where he had left of. Jack Teagarden introduced him to Eddie Condon's Club in Greenwich Village in New York and there Ralph has become a regular feature, playing intermission piano between the jazz band sessions. Since then he has made many recordings and concerts appearances and established himself as one of the greatest white exponents of traditional jazz piano.
The present collection reveals his versatility and particularity emphasises his Waller mood and his wonderful precision. Cliff Leeman at the drums provides just the right kind of accompaniment and the results are, shall we say, swinging - not strained - and happy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Harlem
• stride
• piano
• Lous
• mazetier
• jazz
• willie
• the
• lion
• smith
• carolina
• shout
• bernd
• lhotzky
• james
• p.
• johnson
• dick
• hyman

[TheDarmardar]

love this guy

[jamesp34]

Léger, swinguant, avec un phrasé rappellant un peu Willie Smith The Lion; de l'excellent piano stride. Merci monsieur "Stridebatty76" de nous faire profiter de cet excellent pianiste qu'était Ralph Sutton.