download: vimeo.com/show... Max Keenlyside performs The Entertainer (1902) composed by Scott Joplin but in Jelly Roll Morton style. Filmed Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Sedalia, MO
I’m glad that we live in a time where we can see a pianist and composer his grade is Max with him never leaving PEI or us traveling to see him. I would love to see him in person and there’s things open up that may be possible. But if he never leaves PEI and we still get to enjoy him all the time. He’s a true jewel. He should be very proud
I'd have to hunt for the video from one of the ragtime festivals, a few yrs ago, where Max & Kylan DiGhetaldi play a number of Max's compositions together on two pianos. That's a real treat to hear, given that Max can play like "Jelly roll" & compose like Joplin & a few of the other greats & Kylan can pretty well replicate the style of Fats Waller & Art Tatum. What a duo! Would love to hear them together, live....
I feel like with thoughts, like this, it’s important to consider how close to “correct” the interpretation is trying to be. If a performer is trying to play one of his rags authentically in “classic ragtime” style, then it’s fair to point out things like, hey, you’re playing each beat at 250 BPM… Or, don’t swing pineapple rag… it’s just not right 😂. Max is clearly having some fun with the tune and playing it in jelly roll stride style. I’m personally a composer and would be absolutely flattered if someone dedicated time to play around with a piece of mine, in say, classic rag or novelty, and strided it or something! People do it all the time with random music today, ex. Martin Spitznagel striding Star Wars music, or Tom Brier’s crazy sightreads of music that is DEFINITELY not ragtime here on RU-vid Maybe Joplin would have really enjoyed it and gotten a kick out of it. His stubbornness with how his music should be played… “ragtime should NEVER be played fast,” or “do NOT improvise this piece” also comes from the fact that he wanted his music to be respected and qualify as notated, “classical” music, while the early jazz/ragtime sort of stuff was more pop. I personally assume it’s not how he really felt COMPLETELY. Who knows though, maybe the guy really was this stubborn about how his music was played and would never want someone messing around with it 😂.
