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James P. Johnson is known as the Father of Stride Piano, and composed the most iconic work that captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties, the Charleston. Both pianist and composer, he not only wrote jazz but also music for theatrical shows, symphonic works and opera too. He performed alongside jazz greats such as Fats Waller, Willie The Lion Smith and Sidney Bechet, and also collaborated with George Gershwin as well. Johnson was an early pioneer in the recording industry, and made many studio recordings as a soloist and with his own jazz band. Yet despite all of this, his name has been largely forgotten today. One possible reason for this is that being a transitional figure between ragtime and jazz, he’s been hard to categorise.

This week, Donald Macleod will explore five periods in Johnson’s life where Johnson strove to achieve a different role: recording artist, theatre composer, performer and teacher, and also a Tickler - a ragtime saloon pianist.

Music featured:

Charleston
Carolina Shout
Fascination
Concerto Jazz A Mine
Caprice Rag
Empty Bed Blues
Daintiness Rag
Twilight Rag
Steeplechase Rag
There’s No Two Ways About Love
My Sweet Hunk O’Trash
Charleston
Alabama Stomp
My Headache
My special friend is back in town
Lonesome Swallow
Guess who’s in town
Victory Stride
Drums
Harlem Strut
Snowy Morning Blues
Keep off the grass
Havin’ a ball
A Porter’s Love Song to a Chambermaid
Toddlin’ Home
Runnin’ Wild Medley
After Tonight
Old Fashioned Love
If I could be with you
Jingles
I Need Lovin’
Yamekraw, A Negro Rhapsody
Backwater Blues
Charleston
Stop That Dog
Lock and Key
Sweet Mistreater
Don’t Cry Baby
Riffs
You’ve Got to be Modernistic
Sippi
Charleston
American Symphonic Suite
Put Your Mind Right On It
Go Harlem
A Porter’s Love Song to a Chambermaid
Hungry Blues
Harlem Hotcha
Ain’tcha Got Music
Harlem Symphony
Lonesome Reverie
Gut Stomp
Blues for Fats
You Can’t Lose a Broken Heart
Charleston

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Luke Whitlock, for Â鶹Éç Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for James Price Johnson /programmes/m000p7mr

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z