The Stride Style / Pianist

Though he took lessons from the age of 5, Ellington’s interest in playing piano surged during his early teenage years, as he became acquainted with the “stride” style.

He hung around great stride players like:


Willie “the Lion” Smith (7:00)


Fats Waller (2:43)

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Stride Defined
Stride is a musical language using many idioms, varied harmonics and rhythms, such as 2 against 3. It must be studied over a period of years so that the performer no longer has to think about each left hand alternation but can program ahead several bars. As all jazz, it is impossible to play properly by reading sheet music, and when younger pianists try to play a Waller or Johnson piece note for note from a written transcriptions, the special swing and feeling of the style are completely lost and they often sound mechanical, like piano rolls or at a Disneyland Pizza joint.

More info on Stride

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