Monthly Archives: April, 2017

Clarence “Jelly” Johnson Player Piano Rolls Part 2 – Popular Songs

Posted in - Biography & Clarence Jelly Johnson & Historical & Piano Roll on April 27th 2017 0 Comments

“Hawaiian Nightingale.”  A very simple although lovely waltz by Vaughn DeLeath.  Hardly to be considered within any discussion of jazz/blues or hot music.  And yet, Clarence Johnson’s performance is a salient reminder that great talent produces great music. Johnson’s playing of this otherwise commonplace, sentimental tune is uniquely his own; containing his jazz …

Clarence “Jelly” Johnson Player Piano Rolls Part 1 – Jazz and Blues

Posted in - Biography & Clarence Jelly Johnson & Historical & Piano Roll on April 27th 2017 0 Comments

Although Clarence Johnson left us no piano solo disc recordings, no band recordings, and only about two dozen vocal accompaniment sides, he still remains one of the most influential artists in the history of Chicago South Side Piano.  Unlike Blythe, who was prolific in all forms of recordings, Johnson’s personal playing style is …

James “Jimmy” Blythe – Player Piano Rolls Part 2 – Popular Songs

Posted in - Biography & Historical & James Jimmy Blythe & Piano Roll on April 22nd 2017 0 Comments

This section will present Blythe’s piano roll recordings of popular songs, such as fox trots and waltzes of the day.  Frequently, these performances are highly jazz-tinged (even the waltzes) and exhibit Blythe’s characteristic keyboard trademarks.  On some, Blythe added hot South Side coda sections to otherwise commonplace tunes, and these are special for …

Jazz, Blues and Ragtime Piano Rolls – An Introduction

Posted in - Featured & Historical & Piano Roll on April 18th 2017 0 Comments Trebor Tichenor Piano Rolls

Many collectors of jazz, blues and ragtime are familiar with this material via 78rpm or LP recordings and sheet music.  While a number of websites have in the past offered downloads of piano rolls, both hand-played and arranged, the effort which Paolo and I are now undertaking on Chicagosouthsidepiano.com is unprecedented in terms …