Winifred Atwell arrangement of Black and White Rag

Winifred Atwell's arrangement of 'Black and White Rag' was a hit in the fifties and one of her recordings of it was used as the theme for the television programme 'Pot Black'. It is played here by Mike Thomson, more or less as in the published sheet music.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Winifred
• Winnie
• Atwell
• Black
• and
• White
• Rag
• Ragtime
• Pot
• fifties
• UK
• hit
• record
• other
• piano
• Mike
• Thomson

[mikewoollett]

I love your little subtle changes. To me this is still the definitive performance of Winnie's signature tune. Keep well and hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for the enjoyment you have given us all.....

[honkytonkpiano]

@mikewoollett Hi, Mike. I'm delighted that you have been able to get some enjoyment from that video. I don't feel worthy of your very kind comments - but I'm very happy to accept them! I hope you too will have a lovely Christmas and a successful New Year (no doubt entertaining at the old pianna?). I might be out your way in 2012, as my stepson lives in Sydney. Best wishes and good health, Mike T.

[honkytonkpiano]

The Atwell arrangement was published at the time and is pretty well exactly as she played it. It crops up occasionally on eBay, and the best thing to do would be to save a search and let eBay notify you when next it appears.

Best of luck!

Mike

[dreamcastII]

Where did you get the sheet music for Atwell's arrangement of this. I only have George Botsford's sheet music and his left hand is different. This is really colourful, what you play - really nice to see

[honkytonkpiano]

@dreamcastII See eBay auction 260892686742

[amazing763]

Your left hand hits all the right notes, Tom Brier's left hand hits all the right notes (and he's not looking at it because he sight reads). And of course Winnie defined the right notes.

Why do I always seem to get other notes instead? Should I maybe buy an extra left hand, or lose the bi-focals? Or play at half speed?

Anyway, thanks to Winnie for reviving this stuff in 1950, and to you for keeping her style alive.

[honkytonkpiano]

@amazing763 I wish I could hit all the right notes! Eyesight is definitely a factor with advancing years, I find. Slow practice is the best single answer to technical difficulties, and then gradually build up speed having got the feel of the jumps. I still have to watch the keyboard when playing something like this. You might like to have a look at my write-up on how to play the Russ conway left hand style in the russconway website (it's a dot co dot uk site).

[dreamcastII]

@honkytonkpiano many thanks

[pianopeart]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NoFancyPipeName]

Ahh yes - fantastic joanna playing, and a quick Liberace special at 1:00. Fingers going great guns, and then we get the quick look-a-round - all we missed was the flashy white teeth and the wink!!. You just gotta love the sound.

This is a guy that'll never get arthritis in the fingers! They just go too damn fast for it to try and get a hold.

[GetafeMagic]

Hella amazing dude!!

[bulbheadmyass]

Your playing is awesome !