Arrangers Make The Rolls
By Robbie Rhodes
I was highly complemented when Paul Johnson sent me a music roll created by British roll-chopper John Farrell, who transcribed to roll my live- performance of "St. Louis Shuffle", by Fats Waller. Carole, my wife, pumped the roll at the good old Pianola, and a puzzled look appeared. "It sounds like you, but then it *doesn't* sound like you! What's happening?"
I assured her that her senses were still okay, and that she was hearing my arrangement as played by John Farrell. "Well, if they're the same notes, why does it sound different?"
"Because John has his own distinctive sound, no matter what he plays," I replied. Then I illustrated with a computer file transcribed from John's roll of 'California Sunshine', arranged by Bob Zurke, which I also perform in concert. Carole compared the difference as I alternated John's original arrangement with a truncated version (all note durations shortend to 70%). She said, "Now it sounds more like you playing." (I learned the song from John's roll, so it's no surprise that I play the same notes.)
John and I created transcriptions for Hot Piano Classics many years ago of the James P. Johnson songs, 'Jingles' and 'Modernistic'. They're pretty good, but they still don't quite match the phonograph record. That's quite difficult to do!
Conclusion: The same notes (music notes) will sound differently when arranged/played by different artists, unless great care is taken to emulate a specific performer.
J. Lawrence Cook did very well emulating Fats Waller's style. Victor Arden, arranging the later Ampico rolls for Zez Confrey, still sounds more like himself than Confrey.
In live performances Phil Ohman and Victor Arden sounded much like their piano rolls. I think it's an easier task that way!
Robbie Rhodes
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(Message sent Wed 2 Apr 1997, 01:53:01 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.) |
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