Poster James P. Johnson (front left) at the piano
James P. Johnson (front left) at the piano
Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Performance Today®

James Price Johnson

James Price Johnson was a pianist and composer who helped invent the style of "stride piano." He and George Gershwin knew and respected each other's work, but Johnson thought Gershwin didn't get jazz quite right in Rhapsody in Blue. On Today's show, hear Johnson's musical response, a piece called Yamekraw. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler!

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Johann Sebastian Bach: Flute Sonata in A Major BWV 1032 Movement 1 Vivace
Marina Piccinini, flute; Brasil Guitar Duo
Bach: Flute Sonatas
Avie 2196

Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046
Musicians from Music@Menlo
Music@Menlo, The Center for Performing Arts at Menlo-Atherton, CA

Piano Puzzler: Contestant is Bob Lagerquist from Eugene, OR

James Price Johnson: Yamekraw
Gary Hammond, piano; Hot Springs Music Festival Symphony Orchestra; Richard Rosenberg, conductor
JOHNSON, J.P.: Yamekraw / RESER, H.: Suite / GERSHWIN, G.: Rhapsody in Blue
Naxos 559647

Hour 2

Felix Draeseke: Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 38: III. Scherzo - Allegro molto vivace
Matthew Nelson, clarinet; Jason Hardink, piano
Northern Fantasies: Selected Works for Clarinet and Piano 1850 - 1890
Soundset SR 11111

Joel Thompson: Seven Last Words of the Unarmed
Marvin Allen II, baritone; Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra; Morehouse College Glee Club; Florida A&M University Concert Choir
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL

Carlos Simon: Amen!
Gateways Music Festival Orchestra; Michael Morgan, conductor
Gateways Music Festival, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky: Valse -Scherzo Op, 34
Augustin Hadelich, violin; Jason Hardink, piano
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Emmanuel Ponce, arr. Jascha Heiftz: Estrellita (My Little Star) Encore
Augustin Hadelich, violin; Jason Hardink, piano
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Victor Ni

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We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio.

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Missy Mazzoli's Sinfonia for Orbiting Spheres

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About Performance Today®

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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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