COMPACT DISC REVIEW

By

Jack Rummel

Ragtime Tricks

Stephanie Trick, piano

(no label, no number)

Troublesome Ivories / American Beauty Rag / Rialto Ripples / Peacherine Rag / The Chevy Chase / Maple Leaf Rag / Dizzy Fingers / Solace / Pineapple Rag / Ragtime Nightingale / Elite Syncopations / The Easy Winners / The Entertainer / Carolina Shout.

Originally released in 2006 as her first all-ragtime CD, Stephanie Trick recently made the decision to update the contents of this recording with some new tracks and some new arrangements that match her increasing skill level and her burgeoning reputation.  While she seems to be making her mark at home and abroad as a stride pianist, this disc showcases her competence with the classic rags of Joplin, Lamb and others.

There appears to be no genre that she cannot handle.  Her touch is light, yet her fortes command authority; her approach is even and clean at any speed.  She displays respect for the scores, yet she is not wedded to them, inserting tasteful departures here and there.  With the exception of Solace, her tempos fall on the slightly faster side of normal and there is often a delightful sprinkling of staccato which gives a freshness to her performances.

Several cuts are identified as Trick’s own arrangements.  Peacherine Rag, Pineapple Rag, The Easy Winners and The Entertainer have been spiced up, especially on the sectional repeats, with melodic variations, shimmering arpeggios and some jazzy licks.  Elite Syncopations goes a bit farther a field with some heavy swing treatment, but with Maple Leaf Rag she starts as per the score, then quickly cuts loose, making it a stride/stomp showpiece and demonstrating that she can improvise with the best of ‘em.  Serving as bookends to the entire CD are two stride sparklers, Troublesome Ivories and Carolina Shout, both of which appear effortless

The playlist is filled with old favorites that will be familiar to most ragophiles, so the decision whether to add this recording to your collection may rest not on what she has chosen to include as much as how she plays these pieces.  The simple, two-word answer is: very well.  While Stephanie Trick’s stride numbers may bring today’s audiences to their feet, this CD will please lovers of classic ragtime as well.

Available for $20.00 postpaid at <www.stephanietrick.com> or through <www.cdbaby.com>.