Ragtime and stride pianist
Wally Rose died in 1997, but during his lengthy career, he had credentials that included stewardship with vintage jazz icons
Lu Watters & the Yerba Buena Jazz Band,
Bob Scobey's Frisco Band, and
Turk Murphy. This reissued CD combines his recordings "Whippin' the Keys" and "Rose on Piano" for the Blackbird label. Though none of these tracks are composed by
Rose, he has chosen material by many classic ragtime songwriters and a few lesser-known pianists, and plays all of them so expertly.
Rose is very consistent to the point of overkill, but this is what he does. There are 13 officially titled rags, including the easy "Blue Goose Rag"; the truly classic upbeat "Scott Joplin's New Rag"; a definitive, happy "Cleopatra Rag" and slower "America Beauty Rag," both written by the immortal
Joe Lamb; and a chordal, slightly dissonant "Pastime Rag #4" penned by icon
Artie Matthews. Others to savor are the nailed-on-the head
Joplin evergreen "Elite Syncopations,"
Tom Turpin's awesome "St. Louis Rag," and the peppy "New Era Rag."
Rose jams at near five minutes, epic for a solo pianist in this style, during the signature lines that turn complex and intricate during "The Lion Tamer Rag," and in "Rags to Burn" he shows some virtuosic flourishes, but not to the extent of being flashy or fancy. "Pickles & Peppers" is stylized for sure, but good fun and more whimsical. As the personal discography of
Rose was limited even though he produced many sides that are nearly impossible to find, this is a precious document, a very well preserved tape digitally reproduced with professional care, and a must-own item for fans of this slice of Americana.