Customer Reviews

The Greatest Ragtime of the Century

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Prior to this album, the only ragtime I really knew was "The Entertainer" and "Maple Leaf Rag". I don't know how this album fares for enthusiasts, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it. It introduced me to several different composers. The way the album is organized by giving you a two or three song block by each composer is good. As you listen to this, you can easily hear the different styles from one composer to another. As for the recording quality, I don't have any complaints whatsoever. Each note is clear without much noticable fuzz or hissing. The versions of Scott Joplin's songs are played a bit brash and speedy when compared to Joshua Rifkin, but I think they sound livlier because of it. Overall a solid release.

It was an awesome experience to hear Ragtime and early blues played by the masters themselves. When you hear the music from their own hands, if not their own pianos, it makes the music immediate, and makes even clearer the stylistic differences of the various American musical pioneers. The sound quality is excellent. I'd strongly recommend this recording to anyone who enjoys early-20th-century jazz.

What a terrific CD. What a joy to add to your life. Everyone should begin their day with this Great Ragtime.We would all be much better.

As a former dancer, Flapper, wth the Charleston in my routine, I do appreciate Great Music. I'm not quite as good as I used to be, but neither are you, Gal. Will be 66 next birthday. Still have the rhythm and love life.

Put some spice in your life and don't let this CD get away. Please, just get it today.

Digital recordings from player-piano performances. You can still hear some faint sounds of the player piano in the background, but that does add some charm to the effect. Bravo for the producers who found a nice way to preserve performances that otherwise might have literally disintegrated.

There are 3-4 tracks by several well-known artists performing their own works. Very enjoyable.

Performing Ragtime Music while touring the world with Gunther Schuller and the New England Ragtime Ensemble for 25 years, I never tired of this happy, toe-tapping music. Discovering this gem of recorded samples of Joplin, Morton, Johnson and Blake brings back many memories of performing this music for 25 years with the New England Ragtime Ensemble. We even got to meet Eubie Blake in Joplin, Missouri at their Ragtime Festival in the early 70's. Sweet guy with enormous hands. The tempi are a little fast, but that's due to the technology of the time, ie. piano rolls. There was only a set amount of time to record their music. Joshua Rifkins tempi are good but still a tad faster than what we as a group performed their works. One must admire how flawless the playing is. There was no stopping and going back to correct mistakes like today with digital. And the artists are still phenomenal in spite of having a time constraint. Listening to the cd on headphones, one can even hear the actual piano action while the piano is playing. IMPRESSIVE!!!

This disc is one of my favorites in the ragtime genre..and I listen to a lot of them. I especially like to crank up the volume on the final track right before I get to work in the morning. The gate guard looks at me a little peculiar, but nothing gets you rolling like a little Regal Stomp.. the duet (even though it's a piano roll by Jimmy Blythe and his cousin) is just a tremendous piece of music. When you combine this track with ones by Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie, Fats, James P. Johnson and the 'King' Scott Joplin, it just doesn't get any better. If you've missed this disc, get it now!

These songs are not only classic ragtime, most of them are being performed by the original artists. Despite the age of the recordings, the sound reproduction is excellent. If you are a ragtime fan, DO NOT miss this one!

Here you have something That's not possible to do without time travel. Here we've got Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller all in one place and time. How can you go wrong with just that and there's more. 16 tracks of just good old ragtime tunes. Played in the style of the original artist on a real player piano from 1910 with old paper rolls from the archives.

Hi I am always looking for "new" music. My music tastes have a wide range from Vangelis to Congo tribal songs. Hope you will look for this for your collection. happy hunting..TR

I knew I liked a bit of ragtime, but I think it turns out I just like Scott Joplin. Still a fun CD to have around to perk up a gloomy day.