In Alex Ross' list of 20th-century musical examples, he includes Conlon Nancarrow's Study No. 3a from the "Boogie-Woogie Suite." This is as wild as American expatriate player piano gets, I suppose.
Earlier today, I was listening to George Antheil's blues parody Little Shimmy from 1923 and a couple of measures reminded me of the repeated notes of Jerry Lee Lewis. And how did Jerry Lee's marriage to his 13-year-old second cousin work out, anyway?
Frank Oteri from his 100 Reasons to Play This Century's Music also comments on Little Shimmy:
A extra-ordinarily short jazzy piano piece to brighten up the afternoon.
Comments