Pianist/singer
Sue Keller helps keep ragtime alive in her series of recordings for her Ragtime Press label. This particular collection mixes vintage works (including "Carolina Shout,"
Scott Joplin's "Gladiolus Rag,"
Irving Berlin's "International Rag" and James Scott's "Honey Moon Rag") with some material from the 1920s and five works from the 1980s.
Keller often plays out of tempo in spots, uses pauses effectively, and puts plenty of feeling into her interpretations. Her occasional vocals on tunes such as "I Got What It Takes" and "After You've Gone" are OK, but it is her piano playing that is most notable. ~ Scott Yanow