Blake: Capricious Harlem (Version by William Bolcom)

Description

Version by William Bolcom (approved by Eubie Blake)

"Capricious Harlem , from the mid-thirties of the last century, fits into the genre of American salon pieces, like Signorelli's Park Avenue Fantasy, or de Rose's Deep Purple , which were popular at that time. Eubie Blake wrote it out in a much simpler version than he actually played it, and my version is largely a reflection of his own performance. Eubie always said it was incumbent on a musician to make his own version of a piece like Capricious Harlem - not just to play 'The notes', as he always said - but I added extremely little to his own version, and when I played it for him he heartily approved: 'It's your piece now, kid!' I dedicate my transcription of Capricious Harlem to his memory." (William Bolcom)