Piano Solo – 1991
Horace Tapscott
A rare filmed solo performance by the innovative jazz pianist
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Horace Tapscott (1934-99) was one of Los Angeles’ top living legends, a brilliant pianist, composer and bandleader who was not that well known outside of Southern California.
Whether playing solo, leading a trio, or heading the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, he was a very original improviser and an important force on the local scene, inspiring many younger musicians.
Tapscott was not filmed very often, making this rare performance quite valuable as an excellent tribute to his constant creativity and an example of him tying the past into the future.
The spontaneous piano solo ranges from free moments and a blues to renditions of traditional hymns including “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child” before it fades out.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald