USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Commonly referred to as stride, Harlem stride piano is a style of jazz piano that is a derivative form of Kansas City jazz and an extension of ragtime .

Detailed explanation-2: -Stride piano playing requires a left-hand technique in which the pianist plays a four-beat pulse alternating between a bass note on beats one and three and a chord on beats two and four. This alternating action between a bass note and chord produces a highly rhythmic “oom-pah” sound.

Detailed explanation-3: -The father of stride style piano is James P. Johnson who stylistically came out of ragtime and developed his own unique approach. Informal competitions were common in Harlem at this time and Johnson is said to have won more contests than anyone else.

Detailed explanation-4: -During the Harlem Renaissance, a new way of playing the piano, the Harlem Stride style, was created. It soon became popular and spread throughout the country. This style is prominent in the song “Backwater Blues, ” performed by Bessie Smith and James P. Johnson.

Detailed explanation-5: -There was an explosion of music during the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz and blues was the music that vocalized Harlem’s nightlife. Jazz, which originated in New Orleans, was a fast-paced, energetic style of music.