Fingerbreaker
Sometimes it seems a little goofy to hear reconstructions of early jazz played by modern players. As long as the original recordings still exist, why bother? In Larsen's case, though, there's a clear answer: he's a terrific pianist, with a firm command of all the styles involved in this collection. You might find his version of Joplin's "Solace" a bit sentimentalized, but otherwise he plays the music of all these composer-pianists with gusto, sensitivity, and the utmost conviction. If you heard Larsen onPrairie Home Companion, you'll share my disappointment that none of his originals are included on this disc; he writes a lovely blend of Grieg and Joplin. Perhaps some of those will be included in his next disc. Meanwhile, this one is entertaining and an excellent introduction to early rag and jazz piano styles.--Leslie Gerber