Excerpts from LEARN BOOGIE WOOGIE PIANO

Analysis of Four Classic Boogie Woogies (excerpt) In this appendix we examine four classic boogie-woogies. You will learn what elements boogie woogies have in common as well as what makes them distinct from each other. The four boogie woogies that we examine are: Honky Tonk Train by Meade Lux Lewis (1927 and 1935) Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie by Pinetop Smith (1928) Roll ’Em Pete by Pete Johnson (1938) Monday Struggle by Albert Ammons (1939)

These four pieces are highly representative of boogie woogie piano. Each of the four greatest exponents are represented. The time period 1927-1939 is spanned. This period represents the pinnacle of the boogie woogie era. Additionally, there is a lot of variety within these four pieces.

Figures C-1 through C-4 show the introductions, turnarounds, and bass lines for each of these pieces respectively. Table 1, at the end of this chapter, contains additional information for each of these pieces.

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