Scott Joplin: Interpretations '76 (1976)

With ragtime revivals taking place from time to time, producing the inevitable output of tributes to Scott Joplin, this LP by pianist Mike Wofford is a breath of fresh air. Instead of concentrating on Joplin's best-known rags, he chose to arrange eight selections from Joplin's beloved folk opera "Treemonisha," which unfortunately was a commercial bust for the composer. The music on this album is not ragtime, but a loving, modern interpretation of Joplin's pieces that retain the original melodies, though reharmonization and ... Read More

With ragtime revivals taking place from time to time, producing the inevitable output of tributes to Scott Joplin, this LP by pianist Mike Wofford is a breath of fresh air. Instead of concentrating on Joplin's best-known rags, he chose to arrange eight selections from Joplin's beloved folk opera "Treemonisha," which unfortunately was a commercial bust for the composer. The music on this album is not ragtime, but a loving, modern interpretation of Joplin's pieces that retain the original melodies, though reharmonization and changes in rhythm are incorporated into Wofford's arrangements. Four of the tracks are piano solos, while bassist Chuck Domanico and drummer Shelly Manne are added on the remaining selections. It's a shame that this Flying Dutchman LP was overlooked by critics and jazz radio, as there is a lot of memorable music within it. While Joplin would likely have preferred that everything be played as it was written, as was the case with his rags, he would likely have approved of Wofford's taking the time and effort to explore this rarely heard music, even if it was in more of a bop setting. The hilarious cover art is an added bonus to this long out of print record. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi Read Less

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