RAISE FUNDS FOR NEW MASTER CD (Jazz & Ragtime)

I am a composer – pianist who made most of his recordings in the 1990s. I was the first person to record the virtuosic piano ragtime of composer Robin Frost in 1992. Two years later, I was the first pianist to record and release an entire compact disc album of contemporary piano rags. Gramophone magazine said of the last album, “…a remarkably talented pianist…as a performer Davidson has few peers…”

I wish to re-release the CD, "Sugar’s Nightmare: Piano Rags to Jazz 1898 – 1995," originally released on the Mastersound label in 1996 and in addition, make it available for download to a newer audience. This album contains three of my own compositions, plus the work of Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, Willie “The Lion” Smith, Joseph Lamb, Novelty piano virtuoso Arthur Schutt, Joe Sullivan, Earl Hines, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk, and the only digital recording of legendary blues pianist-composer, Lemuel Fowler.

In order to do this, I need to employ engineer and sound restoration specialist, Doug Benson to create new masters using the newest digital technology.

Doug is one of the leading sound restoration experts in the world, and was responsible for the critically acclaimed re-release of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings album on the Rivermont label – the originals being on 78 rpm records from the 1920s. (https://rivermontrecords.com/products/1170?variant=13047284170813 )

Of this album, Jack Rummel in The Rag Times, said in September 1996, “With his trademark leaps from pianissimo to fortissimo and his seemingly effortless mastery of all 88 keys, no other ragtime performer today explores the full range of the piano, both dynamically and geographically as he does. He is a true virtuoso, and his feats of his skill will amaze you.”

Stuart Broomer, in Cadence magazine (in January 1997) stated the following: “…this is…sprightly music, with sometimes surprising depths, of interest to both aficionados of traditional forms and those seeking a non-pedantic (and well recorded) entry to the music’s past.”

Here are a couple of the tracks from the original album:

https://youtu.be/bGRYVrJYvSA (piano puzzle)

https://youtu.be/JWBmNGfagWw (satisfied blues)

I estimate the cost for the extensive work needed on this album (plus a few "bonus tracks") and some of the manufacturing costs to be USD $1,000 (approximately $1,400 in CAD). Once this new master is complete, it will be released in due course through RIVERMONT RECORDS.

Any donor committing to more than $200 will receive two mp3s of their choice via email, from the playlist of the eventual compact disc.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Matthew de Lacey Davidson