I Got Rhythm

Seatbelts are highly recommended for this mind-blowingly, fast performance of Gershwin's I Got Rhythm. Yes, that metronome marking is correct! The performance needs to be heard to be believed!

This track is actually a shortened studio version of a live routine that Fats and his touring big band performed at the time.

It represents a staged recreation of what was a common practice in the days of the Harlem so-called “rent party”, where financially stricken tenants would raise money by hiring the top pianists of the day as dance music for the night (the DJs of their day!) and during the night's proceedings, these pianists would often try to out-do each other via "cutting contests", dishing out the entire contents of their "bag of piano tricks" in battle to become the undisputed crowd-pleasing winner.

Hank Duncan was Fats' favourite player of the day and "sit-in" pianist as if anyone could ever "sit in" for Fats Waller! But he and Fats do an amazing job of outdoing each other in this amazing session.

One can't help thinking that the moment Fats "loses it" in his solo was all part of the act. It was pretty obvious that Fats was the greater pianist in the room and so it comes across as a wonderful gesture of generosity on Fats' part. For performance purposes, I've included a suggested piano part here. Listen to the actual recording. It's wonderful listening!

A bit of guessing was necessary with Hank Duncan's part to create this transcription due to various accompanying banter.

Speaking of banter, Fats refers to Hank's "...stridin' over there..." which is probably the only recorded instance of Fats ever uttering the term "stride". The term "stride" was, I always assumed, a name attributed to the Harlem players only later from a historical perspective and not used amongst the players at the time. This proves otherwise.

Apologies for the purists, but I couldn't resist but add an extended ending for a more final finish!

Here's the audio for the ultimate interpretation reference:

• Fats Waller & His Rhythm - I Got Rhyt...

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