James P. Johnson: Victory Stride (1994)

Famous as the "Father of the Harlem Stride Piano," and the writer of 16 musical revues, James P. Johnson composed many symphonic works on the American experience. The Concordia Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop, with pianist Leslie Stifelman, performs six of Johnson's main works with great vigor and feeling. The Victory Stride (1944) is a foot-tapping swing tune, featuring a minor key theme played by the saxes backed by a mellismatic string section; a terrific piano, clarinet, trombone and trumpet break takes us back to ... Read More

Famous as the "Father of the Harlem Stride Piano," and the writer of 16 musical revues, James P. Johnson composed many symphonic works on the American experience. The Concordia Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop, with pianist Leslie Stifelman, performs six of Johnson's main works with great vigor and feeling. The Victory Stride (1944) is a foot-tapping swing tune, featuring a minor key theme played by the saxes backed by a mellismatic string section; a terrific piano, clarinet, trombone and trumpet break takes us back to the '40s bands which were keeping up the national spirit during wartime. The four movement Harlem Symphony (1932) takes us on a Subway Journey through various ethnic neighborhoods, sweeps the listener away with a 1930s-style ballad, April in Harlem, orchestrated in lush tones, then provides some toe-tapping entertainment in the Night Club, and concludes with a syncopated spiritual in the Baptist Mission, set to a walking bass and often rocking backbeat. The two-movement Concerto Jazz A... Read Less