Join us on April 22 at 2 PM at the New Orleans Jazz Museum for a special afternoon celebrating jazz history and artistry with Scott E. Brown, who will present and sign his acclaimed book Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Jazz Genius of James P. Johnson. Discover the legacy of James P. Johnson, the pioneering force behind Harlem stride piano, through Brown’s engaging insights drawn from rare archival research. The program will be brought to life with a live piano performance by renowned New Orleans pianist John Royen.
James P. Johnson (1894–1955) is one of the most important figures in twentieth-century American music. However, few people other than scholars and serious fans know of his life and work. Rare jazz aficionados know him as the Father of Harlem Stride piano, but his other monumental contributions to American music are seldom acknowledged. Speakeasies to Symphonies: The Jazz Genius of James P. Johnson seeks to rectify this.
Johnson, born in New Jersey, absorbed many musical elements in his youth, especially the African American culture of the Southeastern Seaboard, to create a new musical and rhythmic force for jazz, musical theater, and symphonic music. Johnson’s career stretched from the early 1910s to the early 1950s. His heyday was the 1920s—the decade known for the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance, rent parties, classic blues singers, the first golden age of Broadway and the Great American Songbook, and, perhaps most notably, the worldwide music and dance phenomenon, the Charleston. Johnson not only composed the signature tune that has come to define the decade but was a critical part of the other seminal cornerstones of American music.
Speakeasies to Symphonies presents a detailed portrait of Johnson’s life, music, teachers, associates, protégés, and activity right up to his death. Scott E. Brown explores primary sources previously unavailable, including Johnson’s personal papers, to fill in many gaps and answer lingering questions in his biography, painting a complete picture of his essential legacy.
Scott E. Brown is an independent jazz researcher. He has written two books on James P. Johnson and has published several articles and lectured widely about jazz. He is a practicing physician and holds a master’s degree in jazz history and research.
John Royen is a pianist orn in Washington, D.C. in 1955, John has performed at Preservation Hall for over 35 years, originally taking over the piano chair with the band of "Kid" Thomas Valentine.
John was a protege of the Late Don Ewell and is an exponent of the "stride" piano style. His playing is an eclectic mix of "Jelly Roll" Morton, Fats Waller and Willie "The Lion" Smith among others.
A popular performer, John has worked with virtually every major traditional jazz group in New Orleans and filled the piano chair for internationally known clarinetist Pete Fountain for over 2 years.. In 2008, John was voted as All Star Jazz Pianist by New Orleans Magazine.
A superb soloist as well, John frequently performs and lectures on traditional jazz for the National Park Service, numerous private groups and festivals nationally and overseas.
John currently performed in various jazz clubs around New Orleans and has been in residence in the Polo Club Lounge at the prestigious Windsor Court Hotel for over 12 years.