Articles

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

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 that reason.

On the other hand, Blythe was of course a compensated artist and had to perform whatever material was requested of him.  Sometimes the tunes might have been so mediocre that even his enormous talents could not rescue them!  But more often than not, he left something of himself in these recordings.

As I stated in the last section, Blythe always “played from the heart.” I can still remember the first 88-note format Blythe roll I ever heard; “Sweet Indiana Home.”  I felt something there that I cannot put into words.

And his version of the well-known waltz “Who’s Sorry Now” is remarkable.  For the first half, it is played in a ‘sing-along’ style with marimba filler effects, rather commonplace and similar to the majority of such rolls (which unfortunately were what the majority of what the roll-buying public of the day wanted).  But shortly thereafter, Blythe abandons waltz time and adopts fox-trot rhythm.  What follows is an extraordinary display of his artistry; a “South Side” performance in every respect, replete with wonderful jazz licks and an extraordinary coda.  So, with the great talents of Jimmy Blythe, treasures may be found in the least likely of places.

James Blythe’s Piano Rolls Part 2 – Popular

Frank Himpsl