Andrew Oliver has a new album to promote, a piano to sell and a move back home sometime soon. A star performer at last year's Classic Jazz Party on Tyneside, pianist Oliver has kept himself busy performing regular live stream lockdown sessions. 
On Wednesday evening, from the comfort and safety of his London home, Oliver previewed a selection of numbers from his new CD No Local Stops*. A feature of the pianist's recent online gigs has been a noticeable absence of sheet music. A Jelly Roll Morton specialist with a comprehensive knowledge of the work of many other pianists of the era (essentially 1920s/30s' ragtime and stride piayers), Oliver once again dazzled with his technical proficiency.
Arthur Schutt's Piano Puzzle opened the one hour programme, Bert Williams and The Perfect Rag were two of a bunch of Morton numbers with Oliver wryly noting the composer's typical humility titling the latter number as he did! The album's title track, No Local Stops by Willie 'The Lion' Smith had to be included and it was, with Oliver saying the composer never recorded the piece although in later years Ralph Sutton certainly did.
Seger Ellis' Sentimental Blues provided an example of the Texas school of pianists. Oliver revealed that earlier this year he met up with cornetist Colin Hancock in Austin, Texas to cut a 78 disc of the number - these guys are serious about their art!. Joseph Lamb's Cottontail Rag made the set list and, before going out on Morton's The Pearls, Oliver made an unusual sales pitch - PIANO FOR SALE! Our pianist from Oregon is soon to return home after several years living in London. If you're after an upright why not make Andrew an offer!
No Local Stops is available from Rivermont Records, USA and Dave Kelbie's London-based Lejazzetal Records. Inner London listeners/viewers are in for a treat - order a copy from www.lejazzetal.com and Mr Kelbie will deliver your copy...by bike!
* No Local Stops' brilliant cover artwork is by Classic Jazz Party favourite, percussionist Nick Ball.
Russell
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