Music #37 - Jazz piano styles

Jazz piano styles

1890 to 1940

Ragtime (represented by Scott Joplin)   Note the

(1) syncopation (the pianist’s steady left hand and his roaming offbeat right hand),

(2) boom-chuck pattern (a low bass note followed by a chord), and in general

(3) ragtime strains which are 16 measures long and are played twice: AA BB CC DD.

* The Entertainer (resurrected in 1973 for the film 'The Sting')   

* Maple Leaf Rag   * Easy Winner

* Ragtime explained
Note: Rag refers to a kind of music that was put together like a military march and had rhythms borrowed from banjo music.  Syncopation: many musicians 'ragged' different tunes by making the loud accents fall in between the beats. 

 

Stride (represented by James P. Johnson and Fats Waller)

The stride piano style added in more notes than ragtime.

* Carolina Shout    

* Mule Walk    

* Ain't Misbehavin'
* Honeysuckle Rose

Boogie Woogie (represented by Meade "Lux" Lewis)   

A form of solo piano music; note the musical energy from the left hand.

* Boogie Woogie  

* Honky Tonk Train   

* Bugle Call  

 

Riffs are short musical phrases that are repeated again and again: sometimes they are theme statements; somtimes they are backgrounds for improvised solos.

Rag/ragtime riff demonstrated; note how his bass hand jumps:

* Down Yonder

* The Charleston

Woogie boogie riff demonstrated:

* by Tommy Johnson

* by Johan Blohm

* by the Andrews Sisters loosely in "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of the Company B"

Then, the big band (>10 performers) jazz.

Boogie, again!