Jazz

1949 · List3677 — New York City: Edwards Music Co. and others 1949. Ten pieces of sheet music see full inventory below. Overall Near Fine. A representative group of sheet music publications by Willie “The Lion†Smith one of the defining architects of Harlem stride piano and a central transitional figure between ragtime-era keyboard traditions and modern jazz performance. Active in New York during the formative decades of twentieth-century jazz Smith developed a powerful pianistic approach combining rhythmic authority harmonic sophistication and improvisational independence becoming widely regarded as a “musician’s musician†and an influential mentor to figures including Duke Ellington.1<br /> <br /> Emerging from the uptown New York scene shaped by pianists such as James P. Johnson and Luckey Roberts Smith helped define the stride style that grew from ragtime into a more expansive jazz idiom frequently performing at Harlem rent parties and participating in competitive “cutting contests†that tested virtuosity and improvisational skill. Smith also published sheet music producing piano solos novelty songs and popular compositions. Offered here are ten pieces reflecting the breadth of his printed output including collaborative songs and published folios issued by firms such as Leo Feist Edwards Music Co. Mills Music and Joe Davis. In his 1964 memoir Smith recalled hearing in everyday life “another weird but musical sound… that I can still hear in my head.â€2<br /> <br /> Uncommon on the market we find only four first edition copies of Smith sheets available at the time of writing with most of these not available. <br /> <br /> Titles include:<br /> <br /> “Between Sharps and Flats An Unusual Piano Soloâ€. Willie Lion Smith. New York: Edwards Music Co New York 1949. 5 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “Curfew Time in Harlem Novelty Songâ€. Willie The Lion Smith and Neil Laurence. New York: Joe Davis Inc New York 1938. 3 pp. Near fine with minimal wear. <br /> <br /> “Echo of Springâ€. Willie The Lion Smith. New York: Leo Feist Inc New York 1946. 6 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “How Could You Put Me Down†Willie The Lion Smith with James P. Johnson and Mitchell Parish. New York: Mills Music Inc 1945. 5 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “Karnival on the Keys A Modern Piano Fantasyâ€. Willie Lion Smith. New York: Edwards Music Co New York 1945. 5 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “Let’s Go Joeâ€. Cab Calloway Willie Lion Smith and Jack Palmer. New York: Rytvoc Inc 1942. 3 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “Let’s Mop It Mop! Mop!â€. Jack Edwards Fred Norman and Willie Lion Smith. New York: Edwards Music Co 1942. 3 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “Modern Piano Solos†folio. Willie The Lion Smith. New York: Leo Feist Inc 1939. 26 pp. Very good plus with a small chip to front wrap. <br /> <br /> “Rippling Watersâ€. Willie The Lion Smith. New York: Leo Feist Inc New York 1939. 5 pp. Fine condition. <br /> <br /> “Sneak Away Piano Soloâ€. Willie The Lion Smith. New York: Mills Music Inc 1937. 5 pp. Fine condition.<br /> <br /> 1 “Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith: Stride Piano Master†NPR’s ‘Jazz Profiles’ June 11 2008 https://www.npr.org/2008/06/11/91365108/willie-the-lion-smith-stride-piano-master.<br /> 2 Willie Smith Music on My Mind: The Memoirs of an American Pianist Doubleday: 1964. Edwards Music Co. and others unknown