Album Notes

Dave Tucker has produced a fine recording of classic ragtime piano solos authored by Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb. In addition, the early days of American Novelty Piano Music are presented here with piano solos by Zez Confrey, including the smashing "Coaxing the Piano" and the everlasting "Kitten on the Keys". You'll find a fine mix of classic rags and piano novelty solos, with a few standards thrown in as well. Dave Tucker lives in Alexandria, Virginia and conducts patent research for a living. Dave has played ragtime since 1970, but did not play seriously for about 15 years while starting his career, playing ice hockey and raising a family. Then in the early 1990s he returned to the piano with great enthusiasm, hooked up with the Northern Virginia Ragtime Society and started traveling around to all the major ragtime festivals. His first CD "Tickled Ragtime & Novelties" in 2001 featured the music of Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, Zez Confrey and others. Recently, while expanding his ragtime repertoire, Dave has explored many other forms of syncopated music including European novelty piano and the Harlem stride of James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith and Fats Waller. His second CD "Meadow Lark", issued in April 2005, reflects his intense research, study and numerous experiences since first becoming a regular performer on the ragtime circuit. Meadow Lark includes songs of many styles, such as classic and modern-era ragtime, Harlem stride and other examples of early jazz piano music. Dave has performed at the International Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, Blind Boone Ragtime Festival, Lake Superior Ragtime Festival, Eau Claire Ragtime Festival, Alexandria Bay Ragtime/Jasstime Festival and the Northern Virginia Ragtime Society, among other numerous appearances. These performances have included several ragtime presentations for school children. Dave maintains a ragtime-related website at www.TurboRagtime.com.