1928-38

James P. Johnson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 1994)
• Label: Jazz Chronological Classics
• ASIN: B00004SBQO
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #714,509 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Daylight Savin' Blues

2. Georgia's Always on My Mind

3. Riffs

4. Feelin' Blue

5. Put Your Mind Right on It

6. Fare Thee Honey Blues

7. You Don't Understand

8. You've Got to Be Modernistic

9. Crying for the Carolines

10. What Is This Thing Called Love?

11. You've Got to Be Modernistic

12. Jingles

13. How Could I Be Blue?

14. I've Found a New Baby

15. Go Harlem

16. A Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid

17. Just a Crazy Song (Hi-Hi-Hi)

18. Baby Won't You Please Come Home

19. There'll Be Some Changes Made [Trumpet Version]

20. There'll Be Some Changes Made [Piano Version]

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Piano, April 15, 2001

By 

B. D. Tutt (London, UK.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1928-38 (Audio CD)

Volume Two of Classics eight volume James P. Johnson set contains some of the stride masters' greatest recordings in addition to some less memorable band tracks.

Tracks 3-4 and 9-12 are superb examples of stride piano demonstraing all Johnson's formidable talents: superb touch, a great improvisational imagination, power, drive and swing. The variations on the last strain of "Modernistic" are a text book example of Johnson's approach to the piano, while "Feelin' Blue" is a strong example of Johnson's approach to blues, a more powerful interpretation than Waller's similar "Numb Fumblin'".

Tracks 7-8 are big band numbers featuring King Oliver, Johnson sharing the piano with Waller, and a pretty dreadful vocal trio. Tracks 18 - 22 are entertaining: fine band tracks featuring Johnson with Max Kaminsky and the great Pee Wee Russell (listen to the way he swings into the final chorus!). "There'll Be Some Changes Made" is the standout track, but lovers of outrageous musical quotations will admire the way in which in "Dinah" James P. manages to bring in the melody of that classic jazz number, "Yes, We Have No Bananas".

As with all the Classics sets, there are some weak tracks, but this is an enjoyable CD, and the piano solos alone make it an essential purchase for lovers of stride piano.