Cigar Tin Stomp

[ted]

I wrote this sometime in the late sixties and the recording is off an old tape. It is a musical description of a neighbour, with whom my parents and I used to get on the drink. My father had a tin on the kitchen cupboard with cigars in it, and after imbibing half a flagon of local sherry our neighbour used to stagger over, light up a large one and insist I play the piano for him. They were good times.

 

[michauk]

It's wonderful ! And the whole story makes this song so realistic (I can imagine your neigbour dancing or staggering while you are playing - what a story !). Well, I wish I could play the way you do, Sir

All the best !

Michal

[dinulip]

GREAT PIECE! 
You must have had fun, for sure!
Thanks for sharing!

[ted]

Glad you like it. There are many others where that came from, some with scores but several without. Perhaps I should spend less time recording improvisation and more time putting my compositions of the past into order.

[michauk]

Good idea ! I would be honoured to play some of your pieces (if I manage to learn any as my skills are perhaps not sufficient...but maybe someday!). Anyway, I will be checking updates as I really enjoy this music.

All the best,

Michal

[rachfan]

Hi Ted,

Wow!  That was one of your best pieces ever!  And your playing was fabulous.  While listening, it not only created a vivid description of your good-humored neighbor, but when I closed my eyes, it was like watching a silent movie of the event with the piano soundtrack.  Thanks for sharing it here!           

David 

[lostinidlewonder]

You're one cool cat Ted! Enjoyed it very much.

[ted]

rachfan: Pleased you like it. Those times seem so long ago now. The reason I created my own stride, swing and ragtime was simply that really accurate transcriptions, such as those of John Farrell and others like him, did not exist. And aside from one or two examples, scores of Joplin and James Scott were completely unknown in New Zealand. So what I did, of necessity, was forge my own techniques in those idioms.

lostinidlewonder: I have never been a confident interpreter of other people's music, classical or jazz. I can do it, of course, and the results are not completely inept. After your valuable tips on learning multiple pieces I delved into stride transcriptions and contemporary ragtime and played quite a few. However, the same thing happens as when I play Chopin or Liszt. The whole effect is clearly me trying to imitate and missing the bus. With my own pieces, or in improvisation, all that dissipates and I can be happily myself. I think I am too old to change that aspect now. Glad you enjoyed the piece though.

[unholeee]

i would never listen to this stuff, but this is awesome

[49410enrique]

i loved this, and that warm 'analog hiss' i think is part of this great recordings great charm! what a fun work.

i agree you should post more of these and get those that are not on paper notated. fantastic!

[ted]

Pleased you like it Enrique. I'll keep posting such odds and ends as they turn up.