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RAGTIME WIZARDRY a.k.a. "Buying Rags" 18 Enchanting New Piano Rags Played by the Composers Rivermont BSW-2228 Ragtime Wizardry may be Rivermont's most important recording to date: a first-of-its-kind collection of modern piano ragtime recorded by the composers themselves. Beloved ragtime supporter Danny Matson commissioned 18 of today's top ragtime pianist-composers to write and record a rag expressly for this special disc, and - after three years in the making - the result is an entertaining and wonderfully diverse sampling of ragtime piano today. While some of the compositions are firmly rooted in the structure and harmonic language of Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, and their contemporaries, others draw inspiration from novelty piano, stride, tango, and other idioms. Each is infused with the distinct voice of its composer. From the bouncy folk-flavored "Sierra Nevada Rag" to the gentle syncopations of "Spanish Autumn" to the introspective "It Gets Better," as publisher John Stark might say, here is ragtime that is different! The CD includes a handsome 28-page booklet with full program notes and biographies of each of the composers. 72 minutes. US $16.00 Your order will be processed by PayPal. Click on the buttons to hear full-quality audio samples of selected tracks. 1. Better with Age Bill Edwards 2. Sierra Nevada Rag Kathi Backus 3. Figueroa Echoes John Reed-Torres 4. Delphinium Rag Tom Brier 5. Feelin' Dank, Danny Monty Suffern 6. Rivka Road Rag Dalton Ridenhour 7. Enchantment Rag Max Keenlyside 8. Danny's Rag No. π Larisa Migachyov 9. Cactus Candy Mitch Meador 10. Ragtime Ralph Terry Waldo 11. Peace Dale Mill Frank LiVolsi 12. Spanish Autumn Brian Holland 13. The Jericho Tumble Martin Spitznagel 14. Tiffany Lamp Rag Vincent Johnson 15. Transplant This! Rag (Or, "O Danny Boys") William McNally 16. Wandering Greybeards John Partridge 17. Thompson Falls Rag Bryan Wright 18. It Gets Better W. Brett Youens Credits: Introduction: Danny Matson / Mastering engineer: Bryan Wright / Cover art: Joe Busam