Eteri Andjaparidze - Zez Confrey: Piano Music (1998)

Zez Confrey (1895-1971) may not be a household name, but his 1921 masterpiece "Kitten on the Keys" certainly is. The Illinois-born composer studied the classics growing up, but somehow the temptation of Vaudeville sneaked its way into his compositions and he found success writing catchy ragtime miniatures with goofy names ("Wise Cracker Suite," "Dizzy Fingers," "Blue Tornado"). Republic of Georgia pianist Eteri Andjaparidze performs 24 of Confrey's works with technical perfection and plenty of spirit--two requirements for these compositions--but sounds a tad robotic on some numbers. Between "Kitten" and 1959's "Fourth Dimension," Confrey explored blues, rags, Latin rhythms, and--of course--jazz, but the real highlight here is a slow number, the four-movement Moods of a New Yorker. In sum, this a great tribute featuring great music, perfect for fans of George Gershwin, Ferde Grofé, Jelly Roll Morton, and Joseph Lamb. -- Jason Verlinde