PRJC Jazz Talk: Stride Piano, Keys to Harlem's Renaissance w/Tom Roberts

During the 2nd and 3rd decades of the 20th century on the East coast of the United States of America, a most miraculous and thoroughly new American music was created and reached maturity. The effects of this music were profound and influenced the course of music for the next generation.

This music was based on the first great creation of free black Americans: ragtime, and incorporated the finest virtuosic techniques of the greatest European concert pianists. These men were born in the latter part of the 19th century, from all across the Eastern Seaboard: Philadelphia, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Goshen, New York, Princeton New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Baltimore Maryland. But they all settled in the hub of black culture: Harlem

This music is now known to us as Harlem Stride Piano.

Please join us for Tom Roberts and The Hot Club of Pittsburgh for a guided listening adventure, “The Keys to the Harlem Renaissance”. You'll hear early recordings directly from the original 78s, with narrative by Tom about the performers and the music.

The Hot Club of Pittsburgh was formed during the pandemic at the insistence of record producer, radio personality, and curator of Jazz at Lincoln Center: Phil Schaap who inspired me to create a listening option to counteract the abysmal local radio scene.

Tom Roberts is acknowledged as one of the premiere exponents of early jazz piano and has performed across the globe including performances at The International Stride Summit in Zurich Switzerland and multiple appearances at the prestigious “Jazz in July” at Manhattan’s 92nd St Y with Dick Hyman

Learn more about Tom at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Roberts_(pianist)

Register before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) the day of the presentation to receive the Zoom link. There will be time for questions following the presentation.

Host or Publisher The Potomac River Jazz Club