I’m Crazy ’Bout My Baby 1939

A crazily fast solo of one of Fats' often performed tunes co-written with his friend Alex Hill and alternatively referred to as I'm Exasperated By My Offspring and My Offspring's Exasperated By Me!

Note the "delicate" mp expression marking here. That's how Fats plays it, even at this tempo! His classical-sounding touch is unmatched by any other of the stride masters in my opinion.

The classic right hand "sliding" tenth riff features prominently here. Its most famous use is probably in Fats' opening to Alligator Crawl from 1934 but he used it constantly in various ways, notably in I've Got My Fingers Crossed. Interestingly, the published sheet music of Alligator Crawl attempts to simplify the riff but IMHO makes it awkward to play! While how Fats plays it is no mean feat, all the notes he plays, like Chopin, fit logically under the fingers and always to great effect.

Here's a link to the original recording:

   • Fats Waller I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby (1939)  

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