Historic jazz style represented by Johnson P. James
“Old fashioned love”
Composed in the year 1913 and later recorded by a person known as Cliff Ukulele Ike Edwards in the year 1923.
Johnson James and Fats Wallers
General characteristics of the historic jazz style:
Johnson P. Also known as the “Grandfather of the hottest Piano” was a jazz pianist who developed during the period of transition of ragtime. Ragtime is also known as the music that he performed from the written scores only and also had another attribute of rhythmically and more relaxed developments of the normal piano. As a result, it later becomes to be known as the stride piano. John, at that time, did the development of piano style that was all over or dominated New York Africa-American world of music during those early days of the early twentieth century. The composition referred to as the Charleston became the national anthem for the actual youths in 1920s. Johnson was very excellent in his piano work to the extent of writing even beyond the most popular songs. John was born on February 1st in the year 1894 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. When he was eight years old, the family moved to Jersey City where John played his first gig that earned him twenty-five cents from a lady she performed for at her parlor.
Individual stylistic characteristics:
On the other hand, John was widely known for his style of the jazz piano the “Stride piano”. It is usually described as the orchestra kind of style, and it was very different from the usual boogie-woogie blues playing of the piano. It required a fantastic conceptual independence; the mid-range piano lines being differentiated by the left hand while, at the same time, the right hand supplying or giving melodic factors. John could practice day and night, which made him to be a prolific pianist that he could even play in any provided key. As a result, he would compose photograph records that were his compositions. However, his contemporaries would try to master them, and as a result, of their complexity, they were being used in solo competitions.
John was widely known by his fantastic tune that is referred to as the “Charleston”. He had a very magnificent gift of creating or developing his hits that acquired fame and could be played tirelessly, and also endlessly in those early days. The same hit played in the Broadway Running Show in the year 1923.
Johnson’s recording of the year 1921 Carolina Shout, then considered as his first recorded jazz solo, usually sounds like ragtime when one listens to it. Johnson wrote many musics such as the ‘Plantation Days” and he also collaborated with his students such as Fats Waller. The name jazz; however, was referred to a style of dance during the world war; It originated from the dances that were vernacular done by the Africans. The Africans, who at that time brought on slave ships to America. Also, the most important to a jazz dance is the physical embodiment of the famous popular songs or music of that particular time.
Another jazz characteristic that associated with Johnson is that he was very terrific with his piano in many different ways. For instance, Johnson’s is known for his proficiency using a steadier four-four feel loop, and also, the method of exhibiting the left-hand pattern. Being the greatest practitioner of the stride style, John has his prowess by playing accurately and more quickly than his counterparts. Also, Johnson is known with the ability of improvising spontaneously with just an anachronistic singular inventiveness that was and still leaves the listeners amazed even today.
Eventually, his best hit that was widely known and listened to was the “Old Fashioned Love”. The particular song composed in the year 1913, and later, recorded by a person known as Cliff Ukulele Ike Edwards in the year 1923. Also, Johnson’s taught Fats Waller and put him in his first piano roll, and also, gave him some of the responsibilities of recordings. The hit is entirely on love factors whereby the singer describes the love in the heart and nothing will or can change it. Additionally, the lyrics of the song and the rhythm the piano is matching and the song is of no doubt of good quality. Other performers were Fats Waller.
In conclusion, the artistic work by John on the Old-fashioned Love, is quite exemplary. Its significance is to explain the author’s love that is overwhelming and has been brought excellently with the piano jazz to convey the message efficiently. The quality of the song is different from others, and this makes it perfect as all his work is. Johnson was the best American composer and pianist. Additionally, he was also known for his prowess of the stride jazz style. The best work from him made him the most significant pianists who closed the gap between the ragtime and the eras of jazz together with Jelly Roll too. For the record, Johnson jimmy there was a period that his work started to depreciate, but a good work was already in the ears of the African- American societies. As a result, this made him get time to recover and further his education at the same time. He had big dreams to compose orchestral music that was serious; this attribute made him write revues musical even. Therefore, he could even compose so many orchestral that was at that moment already forgotten and convert them to beautiful, lovely music pieces. Johnson, James will forever remain in jazz lovers' hearts for his magnificent jazz work that was unique and pleasing to almost all ears.
