The Ragtime popularized by Scott Joplin never really disappeared. In fact, no: it did disappear from memory for a good half of the 20th century before making an academic renaissance in the 1960s and a spectacular return to popular favor in the 1970s by appearing in the soundtrack of the 1973 film The Sting (starring Robert Redford, among others). So much for History 101. His swinging style, which is at once jazz, popular and classical, has since attracted a few composers who have dabbled in it from time to time. American William Bolcom is perhaps the most assiduous of all. His rags are all typical, with a few twitches here and there to make them more than basic pastiches. The fact remains that, for the average listener, notwithstanding the super friendly and attractive side of these sometimes lengthy (5-7 minutes) bluettes, the impression that a rag sounds like another rag remains strong. One cannot fault the obvious enthusiasm that propels the Quebec pianist’s playing in this nostalgic-modern repertoire, and the undeniable aplomb with which he breathes life into them. It might have been appropriate to make a nod to another Quebecer inspired by Ragtime: Mimi Blais. The latter has made it her main battle horse and her cheerful compositions have toured the world.
Latest 360 Content
Interview Classical/classique
Information: Montreal Oct. 1970 by Tim Brady: a first opera about the October ’70 Crisis
By Frédéric Cardin
Album review Electronic/Hip Hop/hyperpop 2024
Single of the Day: Kaya Hoax ft. Magi Merlin “Hot Girls with ADD”
By Stephan Boissonneault
Album review Americana/Pop
Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poet Department: The Anthology
By Alain Brunet
Album review classique/musique traditionnelle/Classical/trad québécois 2024
Karina Gauvin – Marie Hubert : Fille du Roy
By Frédéric Cardin
Interview Folk/Americana/Rock/hyperpop
P’tit Belliveau Talks About His New Album, Frogs, and Income Tax
By Stephan Boissonneault
Interview Rock/Electronic/Experimental / Contemporary/expérimental / contemporain/Pop
At Annie-Claude Deschênes’ table: between utensils & sound experimentation
By Louise Jaunet
Concert review
Université de Montréal | Jean-François Rivest’s Grandiose Farewell
By Elena Mandolini
Interview classique/Jazz/Classical
OSL | Naomi Woo | Musique du Nouveau Monde
By Alexandre Villemaire
Album review classique/Jazz 2024
Nadia Labrie – Flute Passion – Claude Bolling : Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio
By Frédéric Cardin
Album review Classical/classique 2024
David Jalbert – Prokofiev : Piano Sonatas vol. II
By Frédéric Cardin
Interview Rock/Electronic/Pop/Jazz