Hog's Back Rolls of UK produces accurate piano roll recreations of
"the most important piano pieces recorded by the blues and boogie
greats", according to proprietors Sid O'Connell and Stuart Barnes.
Their specialty is Jimmy Yancey pieces as heard on gramophone
recordings.  Stuart says, "If you are not familiar with his style
you may be surprised at how spare and stripped of all inessentials
his playing was ... he gets to the absolute essence of the blues."

Current Hog's Back offerings of Jimmy Yancey performances include
"How Long Blues" (Atlantic, 18th July 1951) and "State Street Special"
(Victor, 25th October 1939), and work is underway on Albert Ammons'
renditions of "Boogie Woogie Stomp" (Blue Note) and "Monday Struggle"
(Solo Art), as well as Pete Johnson's "Roll 'em Pete" (from Vocalion).

Julian Dyer previewed the Jimmy Yancey tunes and wrote [020204
MMDigest], "Sid O'Connell has created MIDI sequences recreating
(pretty well exactly) the original 78s, so the sequences are quite
close to what you would have got if Yancey had sat down at a MIDI
keyboard.  They are very effective and only this weekend a jazz
enthusiast friend was most approving of them!"

The new rolls are available in USA from Bob Billings
<toadhall@sprynet.com> for 18 USD each plus shipping, or in UK
from Stuart Barnes <janstubar@tinyworld.co.uk> for 10 UKP each
plus shipping.  Contact Stuart for more details.

Robbie Rhodes