[Dixielandjazz] Unashmed plug: Ragtime Revisited - Martin Litton - John Petters & James Evans new DVD/CD YouTube Promo video

[John Petters]

Press Relerase

Rose Records have released a brand new DVD/CD, 2 disc Box Set, ‘Ragtime 
Revisited’ which features the incredible piano interpretations of Martin 
Litton, piano, the drumming of John Petters & the virtuoso clarinet of 
James Evans - Rose Records RRDVD/RRCD1037.

You can see a 10 minute promotional video on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euQaMe6G2uo

The album got its first radio airplay on Saturday’s Paul Barnes show, 
(about 45 minutes into the programme) all over the South East and 
Eastern Counties of the UK. Listen to the broadcast here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p004cym2

Paul said, “From one classy sound to another…the bonus, besides the 
music, is some extremely learned and well informed notes from Martin 
Litton, who’s evidently studied Ragtime as a phenomenon and really knows 
his stuff and moreover he plays the piano rather well too”!

Ragtime as an art form is over 110 years old - Scott Joplin’s famous 
‘Maple Leaf Rag’, was composed in 1899 (included here).

Listening to these fresh, new Martin Litton arrangements, it is hard to 
believe that Ragtime is not the music of today.

In an age where the UK national broadcaster, BBC Radio 2, foists upon a 
musically ill-educated public, the din of 18-year-old pop singer, Pixie 
Lott, or the dreadful wailings of someone called Mika, which the station 
controller regards as ‘timeless, melodic’ music, the listener may wonder 
why Martin Litton felt the need or the desire to produce a Ragtime album 
in 2009.

For Prof. Litton, (a professor in the tradition of the great New Orleans 
pianists), the consideration is always artistic and he has approached 
the Rags on this album in that way. Essentially piano music, Ragtime 
adapts very well to larger ensembles – there are famous Jazz Band 
recordings by Mutt Carey’s New Yorkers, Bunk Johnson and of course the 
Guv’nor of New Orleans Jazz, Ken Colyer – but few if any recordings by a 
clarinet led trio.

Of the Joplin rags on offer are ‘The Entertainer’, often mistakenly 
called ‘The Sting’, as it was used as the theme tune to that famous 
picture in the 70s: ‘Elite Syncopations’, ‘Solace’ and ‘Heliotrope 
Bouquet’ , which Joplin wrote in collaboration with Louis Chauvin.

Martin Litton is known throughout the world as an expert in the music 
and style of ‘Jelly Roll Morton, who took Joplin’s music and added that 
unique New Orleans flavour to the mix.
Jelly claimed to be the inventor of jazz – he was certainly an early 
contributor.

Martin Litton has transcribed a number of the Morton piano solos and the 
famous Red Hot Peppers recordings and created ‘chamber jazz’ classics 
for the Trio.
‘Grandpa’s Spells’, ‘Wild Man Blues’, ’Mamanita’, ‘Steamboat Stomp’,’ 
Kansas City Stomp’, ‘Sidewalk Blues’, ‘The Pearls’, and ‘King Porter 
Stomp’ are all created anew on this album.

Also included is J Russell Robinson’s 1912 composition, ‘Eccentric Rag’, 
James Scott’s, ’Grace & Beauty Rag’ and a brand new, bang up to date 
composition by James Evans, entitled, ‘Cinnabar Rag’, which James said 
was based on the life cycle of the Cinnabar Moth!

In addition to the 16 superb tracks on this album, there is a scholarly 
booklet as mentioned by Paul Barnes in his review, which describes the 
history and origins of the compositions.

The Video was shot on two High Definition Panasonic cameras, with the 
sound captured on a professional 8 track hard disc recorder. The audio 
quality captured at St John’s Arts Centre, Old Harlow is first class – 
Martin always enjoys playing the super responsive Yamaha grand piano in 
this old church.

Why not go on-line now to:
http://www.traditional-jazz.com/mainpages/popup/1037.htm

where samples of the tracks & the promo video may be found.

-- 
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com


-- 
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ