COMPACT DISC REVIEW

By

 Jack Rummel

The Early Ragtime

Marco Fumo, piano

OnClassical OC41RT

Harlem Rag / Maple Leaf Rag / The Easy Winners / Something Doing / The Chrysanthemum / Frog Legs Rag / Heliotrope Bouquet / Gladiolus Rag / Paragon Rag / Sunburst Rag / Euphonic Sounds / Flashes / In a Mist / Candlelights / In the Dark / Rialto Ripples.

     A classically trained pianist, Marco Fumo came to the attention of the ragtime community in 1987 with his CD, “Last Time Rag,” which was recorded in his native Italy and trickled into the U.S. market through various importers (it’s still available, now on Amazon.com).  It covered an amazing spectrum, from Scott Joplin to Igor Stravinsky, with Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke and Fats Waller in between.

     Fumo’s latest release focuses more narrowly, with rags by the early masters such as Joplin, Tom Turpin, James Scott and George Gershwin.  He has also re-recorded Beiderbecke’s four piano compositions which appeared on his earlier disc.  By restricting his parameters he has automatically increased his competition, for all but the Beiderbeckes have been recorded many, many times by others.

     So what sets Fumo’s CD apart from the rest?  For starters, his performances are crisp and lively, exuding a happy feeling.  The sound is well recorded and the piano is of quality.  All numbers are played in their entirety with no improvisation.  There is little variation in dynamics, extending a bit above and a bit below mezzoforte, yet the result is quite pleasant.  (The Beiderbecke compositions, Flashes, In a Mist, Candlelights and In the Dark, are all taken at slower tempos than the rags and generally display a greater dynamic range.) 

     If there is a fault – and this may not qualify – it is that the rags are performed a notch or two faster than Joplin might have liked.  Gladiolus Rag, for example, clocks at 3:14 , which is faster than any other version in my collection.  The liner notes, which are printed on a poster-sized piece of paper, discuss the history of ragtime and the qualifications of the artist and can be unfolded and pinned on a wall, if you choose.

     Marco Fumo has chosen a fine collection of enduring ragtime masterpieces, adding four Beiderbecke gems to sweeten the mix.  This should fill an important vacancy in Italy , and if you like your ragtime on the sprightly side, you may wish to import it into your own collection.

     Available as an mp3 download for $8.99 from <http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B002W1WWVA?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=digital-music&field-keywords=Marco+Fumo>.