Ragtime Music

Songs Include : "Fig Leaf Rag" / "Rose Leaf Rag" / "Sycamore - A Concert Rag" / "Sunflower Slow Drag" / "Euphonic Sounds" / "Heliotrope Bouquet" / "Gladiolus Rag" / "Palm Leaf Rag" / "Pleasant Moments" / "Weeping Willow" / "The Chrysanthemum And Afro American Intermezzo" / "Maple Leaf Rag"

Songs Include : "Fig Leaf Rag" / "Rose Leaf Rag" / "Sycamore - A Concert Rag" / "Sunflower Slow Drag" / "Euphonic Sounds" / "Heliotrope Bouquet" / "Gladiolus Rag" / "Palm Leaf Rag" / "Pleasant Moments" / "Weeping Willow" / "The Chrysanthemum And Afro American Intermezzo" / "Maple Leaf Rag"

This CD is a mixed bag. Rifkin's interpretations are marked by two unpleasant characteristics. First, he insists upon inserting his own extraneous notes to the score. These are small additions such as passing notes and modest embellishments that are added in the repeat of a part. Though small, these additions are sometimes corny and so far out of style for ragtime that damage to the piece is irreparable. The most annoying improvisation is in the Entertainer (third part in F) which I found so offensive that for several years I refused to play this CD.

The second unpleasantness is the very slow tempo. It is well known that Joplin frequently marked on the score the instruction "not fast" but this is generally understood as an instruction to hold back the ambitious pianist who who wants to show off by playing fast. But Rifkin's tempo borders the unbearable: his interpretation of the Entertainer lasts an unbelievable 5:25 min! Much of the effect of harmonic variation is lost at this low tempo. Other pieces, such as the calm Solace and the Heliotrope Bouquet, do not suffer as much under the slow tempo --although they could benefit from a faster beat-- and the Maple Leaf rag is in fact pleasant, as in most other recordings it is usually too fast. The band renditions by the Southland Stingers are fun, though I would have liked to hear Bethena in its original piano score.

Since there are no sound recordings of Joplin, any version of his work is naturally an interpretation of the written scores he left. Joplin's ragtime was the "precursor" to jazz. Jazz is an improvised music. Ragtime in Joplin's day was not. Roberts is a jazz pianist . He is from an entirely different musical climate and era than Joplin. Marcus Roberts does the composer justice in his creative and inspired 1998 disc, "The Joy of Joplin". If you want to hear "straight" Joplin, look elsewhere. If you want to clearly go "over the top", try "Spaghetti Rag: Rag Music with Mandolins" by Ermenegildo Carosio, et al.

Having followed Marcus Roberts from day one, this is a welcome addition. Unlike the reviewer from Florida, I approached this as I do all of Robert's albums - from Roberts' persepctive. This isn't simply a Joplin album, it's Marcus Roberts playing Joplin, and it was unlikely to be like any other Joplin album out there.

Not that this is a totally unique experience, but it is one of the better solo Roberts albums out there. It is also less inclined to fall into Roberts only trap - technique over passion. Of previous recording I sometimes feel that Roberts tries so hard technically that he lacks the heart and soul of the music. He does a better job of that here.

In the liner notes he mentions Ellington and Bach as favorites. The Ellington album is out now, I wonder if Bach is next?

I like this album for the reasons that the Florida listener didn't. The freshness Roberts brings to these Rags has reawakened my interest in Joplin. Its also nice to here some new music inspired by Joplin. I even broke out the sheet music and revisited Maple Leaf myself with a new attitude. Joplin is in capable hands with Roberts. Though not a ground breaking effort it's certainly worthy of serious listening. If you want Joplin played in a more traditional way there's plenty of that around. By the way, I recommend the Butch Thompson album as well.

I love Joplin, but this recording is a big disappointment. Roberts embellishes the music but seems to add little with his improvisation. He does not fully understand ragtime tempos. Worst of all, only half of the compositions are by Joplin. Try the CD by Butch Thompson.

You might not want to buy this album if you're just looking for a CD of Joplin. But if you already love Joplin's music, and you like Marcus Roberts, this CD won't disappoint you.

Roberts' ragtime feel is great: I could listen to his left hand only all day long. But he then adds his own feel to it. In some cases I hear Ellington and Basie. He brings out the Caribbean sound in Easy Winners, and it makes me think of the piece differently now.

Marcus Roberts shows that you can make the classics new in every generation.

Since there are no sound recordings of Joplin, any version of his work is naturally an interpretation of the written scores he left. Joplin's ragtime was the "precursor" to jazz. Jazz is an improvised music. Ragtime in Joplin's day was not. Roberts is a jazz pianist . He is from an entirely different musical climate and era than Joplin. Marcus Roberts does the composer justice in his creative and inspired 1998 disc, "The Joy of Joplin". If you want to hear "straight" Joplin, look elsewhere. If you want to clearly go "over the top", try "Spaghetti Rag: Rag Music with Mandolins" by Ermenegildo Carosio, et al.

Having followed Marcus Roberts from day one, this is a welcome addition. Unlike the reviewer from Florida, I approached this as I do all of Robert's albums - from Roberts' persepctive. This isn't simply a Joplin album, it's Marcus Roberts playing Joplin, and it was unlikely to be like any other Joplin album out there.

Not that this is a totally unique experience, but it is one of the better solo Roberts albums out there. It is also less inclined to fall into Roberts only trap - technique over passion. Of previous recording I sometimes feel that Roberts tries so hard technically that he lacks the heart and soul of the music. He does a better job of that here.

In the liner notes he mentions Ellington and Bach as favorites. The Ellington album is out now, I wonder if Bach is next?

I like this album for the reasons that the Florida listener didn't. The freshness Roberts brings to these Rags has reawakened my interest in Joplin. Its also nice to here some new music inspired by Joplin. I even broke out the sheet music and revisited Maple Leaf myself with a new attitude. Joplin is in capable hands with Roberts. Though not a ground breaking effort it's certainly worthy of serious listening. If you want Joplin played in a more traditional way there's plenty of that around. By the way, I recommend the Butch Thompson album as well.

I love Joplin, but this recording is a big disappointment. Roberts embellishes the music but seems to add little with his improvisation. He does not fully understand ragtime tempos. Worst of all, only half of the compositions are by Joplin. Try the CD by Butch Thompson.

You might not want to buy this album if you're just looking for a CD of Joplin. But if you already love Joplin's music, and you like Marcus Roberts, this CD won't disappoint you.

Roberts' ragtime feel is great: I could listen to his left hand only all day long. But he then adds his own feel to it. In some cases I hear Ellington and Basie. He brings out the Caribbean sound in Easy Winners, and it makes me think of the piece differently now.

Marcus Roberts shows that you can make the classics new in every generation.