Redneck Rag -- superb piano performance from Tom Brier

This is a barnburner! Someone requested it by asking sarcastically, "Tom, why don't you play something sedate, like Redneck Rag?"

So Tom complied by playing this barnburner sedately!

But don't worry; he picks up the pace after nearly five minutes. ...and it just gets burnin' from there, until he reaches an incredible tempo shortly after the six-minute mark. It's a shame you can't see his left hand too well here -- try to watch it!

This tune is credited to "Brian March". The composer is some guy riding a moped somewhere, if Tom is to be believed, which he almost certainly isn't.

My theory is that "Brian March" comes from taking the first syllables of his last name and Eric Marchese's last name -- Bri 'n' March -- and changing the pronunciation of "March" into the English word (the "ch" is hard in the Italian name Marchese).

Certainly, Brier & Marchese have collaborated on many tunes in the past, but usually in the classic rag or novelty style. This country style would be quite a departure for them. At any rate, no matter who Brian March is, this rag sure makes you wanna shout "yee-haw!"

It also is a popular number for the Raspberry Jam Band.

Recorded at the 2008 Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival. http://www.suttercreekragtime.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/tombrier

The piano is a Yamaha upright.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• ragtime
• fast
• suttercreek
• brier

[MILMAG1]

Don´t confuse talent with hard work. Obviously, this guy is talented but his ability to sight-read like this is a result of endless hours of practice. Once you´ve mastered soght-reading you can play anything you want anytime. For any younger people out there, it is truly the key to musical freedom. DO THE HARD WORK, IT WILL PAY OFF!!

[Keeper1st]

@MILMAG1 He's not sight-reading this. He's not reading at all -- note the lack of sheet music on the piano. Nevertheless, your advice is valid.

[IMAFIRINMYLAZERMAN77]

Wow!!! You were right!! He does play insanely fast!!! Wow...I've actually been watching his videos all day and I am utterly amazed by his sight-reading and pure talent!!! Way to go Tom!!!

[Keeper1st]

@IMAFIRINMYLAZERMAN77 I've been watching him in person for almost 20 years, and, believe me, it never gets old!

[Croter8ment]

wait... am i to understand that Tom himself wrote this piece?

[Keeper1st]

@Croter8ment He won't admit to it, but it is assumed to be so.

[tehyoster]

I can only hope there will one day be sheet music for this song so more people out there can play this awesome tune.

[selenajasondemi]

One amazing pianist that isn't Chinese!

[pianolist]

Tom Brier is the best ragtimer in the US.  He is awesome!

[pianolist]

@Croter8ment A few years back at the Sutter Creek Ragitme Festival, Tom B. told me that he arranged Red Neck Rag from a guitar piece that he heard somewhere.

[AAErikCO]

God if only I could get a copy of this on piano roll! Please PLEASE P-L-E-A-S-E get the man to sit down at a piano to record this to midi. This would sell like hotcakes, er, in redneck terms, "Flappy jacks".