David A. Jasen & Gene Jones

Black Bottom Stomp: Eight Masters of Ragtime and Early Jazz (Hardcover)

Description: Music historians often see ragtime and jazz as separate entities, with ragtime often getting brushed off as the quaint predecessor to the more sophisticated jazz. Jasen and Jones call for a more sophisticated, nuanced understanding of the relationship between the two popular music styles, examining the lives of eight stars of these genres, and noting that during their long careers, they often strode atop both. The authors attack the idea of a rigid divide between the two styles; although ragtime is viewed as a rigid, composed form, it arose from the crucible of informal jam sessions and other improvisatory settings. Jazz, they note, simply took ragtime's improvisation to another level. Aside from being shrewd entertainers, all eight profiled here were always mindful of public taste, all largely self-taught, and all technical masters of their instruments. Moreover, all had long careers joining two centuries, defying the myth that tragic musical geniuses die before their time. An interesting, concise history of a musical genre unfortunately often consigned to footnotes. Ted Leventhal Excellent condition! Ships for the price of 3 records.

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