Today’s choice was going to be something else, but then last night I heard/saw the Philharmonia with Marin Alsop and they opened with the piece below which I just had to share.
James P Johnson was the creator of the Charleston (#StrictlyKlaxon) in 1923, and in the opening timpani solo you can hear those rhythms before the infectious rhythms spread across the orchestra!
It seems ridiculous that so few have heard of him – he taught Fats Waller piano, influenced Duke Ellington, and with figures such as Jelly Roll Morton was one of the key figures in the transformation of ragtime towards jazz.
If you liked that, try his Victory Stride which has an amazing jazz trumpet solo:
Listening Project 