Jelly Roll Morton – “Smoke House Blues” (mp3)
Sassy piano sounds fill the room while listening to one of the first great composer and piano player of Jazz, Jelly Roll Morton. With a charismatic and driven spirit, Jelly Roll Morton worked as a piano player in a whorehouse as a teenager, a pimp, and even a comedian before coming a well known member of his band Red Hot Peppers. In this song “Smokehouse Blues,” you can hear his composing at his best. From the engaging sound of the piano throughout the song to the resonating solos of the other instruments, “Smokehouse Blues” really throws you back into the times of the late 20s.
Scott Joplin – “The Entertainer” (mp3)
Only one of the greatest and most famous piano works of all time, here is Scott Joplin‘s “The Entertainer,” as performed by the American composer himself. More than stand the test of time, this unforgettable theme has become part of the very DNA of popular music, rediscovered by every generation since its conception. From its first run as a piano roll hit, through a chart topping radio resurgence in 1974 (precipitated by a prominent use in the hit Paul Newman / Robert Redford movie The Sting), to its ubiquitous presence on the loudspeakers of ice cream trucks the world over, this piece is synonymous with joy and fun.
Mississippi Jook Band – “Hittin’ The Bottle Stomp” (mp3)
Blind Roosevelt Graves’ and his brothers work under the moniker The Mississippi Jook Band made recordings that have been cited as among the earliest examples of rock and roll music. They made a number of 78 RPM sides for Paramount Records starting in 1929 and left a far bigger footprint on music and culture than they could have foreseen at the time. The high energy piece, “Hittin’ The Bottle Stomp” may have been conceived during the great depression, but it is anything but depressing. This is a crackling performance that stands the test of time. Enjoy.
Drums of the Sosyete Boumba – “Drummers of the Sosyete boumba”
From 1936 to 1937 Allen Lomax and his then-newlywed wife Elizabeth worked in Haiti documenting the music and rituals under the auspices of the Library Of Congress. Now during Haiti’s most devastating disaster to date we are reminded of Haitians rich-cultural roots deeply planted in African tradition. This is a welcome reprieve from the destruction and political turmoil that Haiti’s experiencing. Maybe this recording will offer hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. Uncle PD’s heart goes out to all of Haiti’s survivors.
Drummers of the Sosyete boumba
“Drumming – 3 Drums of the Sosyete Boumba” (mp3)
from “Alan Lomax in Haiti”
(Harte Recordings)
More On This Album
