Jazz pianist legend, Tom McDermott, focuses on the music of Scott Joplin; 17 wonderful tunes.

This CD is not for purists, but, its freshness is unique and and familiar at the same time.

Whatever direction he moves in, Mr. McDermott is a very skilled pianist...

''Mr. McDermott is not simply a follower of tradition or a repository of old tunes. He composes within his wide-ranging idiom with a knowledgeable feeling for his sources and a sense of humor.''

The New York Times

''Often, recorded versions of Scott Joplin's rags sound somewhat mechanical in the execution of the music. This is certainly not the case with Tom McDermott Meets Scott Joplin (Arbors - 19469). Pianist TOM McDERMOTT brings a welcome freshness to his solo interpretations of 14 Joplin pieces, and as a bonus, the album includes three selections taken from an earlier album, Choro do Norte, where McDermott led a sextet that fused Brazilian choro with jazz, including the three Joplin rags included here. The most familiar Joplin pieces, ''Maple Leaf Rag'' and ''The Entertainer'' are included, but the richness of the Joplin catalog is evident in selections like ''Magnetic Rag,'' ''Pineapple Rag,'' ''Rosebud March,'' ''Sunflower Slow Drag'' and ''Something Doing.'' The sextet pieces, ''Swipesy Cakewalk,'' ''Heliotrope Bouquet'' and ''The Chrysanthemum'' are well conceived and executed by the group that includes McDermott, Evan Christopher on clarinet, Rick Trolsen on trombone, Ciao Marcio on guitar, Sergio Krakowski on pandeiro and Henry Lentino on bandolim. This is an album full of energy, sure to catch you ears and not let them go.''

Joseph Lang

Jersey Jazz June 2019 issue

Track Listing

• The Easy Winners
• Magnetic Rag
• The Strenuous Life
• Gladiolus Rag
• Pineapple Rag
• Rose Leaf Rag
• Maple Leaf Rag
• Fig Leaf Rag
• Rosebud March
• Euphonic Sounds
• The Entertainer
• Sunflower Slow Drag
• Searchlight Rag
• Something Doing
• Swipesy Cakewalk
• Heliotrope Bouquet
• The Chrysanthemum

Additional Details

Label: Arbors

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 73:01 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 04/05/19

UPC: 780941146929