James (Jimmy) Blythe - Where have you been hiding?

Jimmy Blythe  lived a short life. He was 30 when he died from meningitis in his home town of Chicago in 1931.   In that short span he recorded hundreds of piano rolls - several you tube links are listed below - most are recordings of player pianos, one is a midi playback, sadly, but you'll get the general idea. He was an amazing pianist and composer yet his name is very rarely mentioned in the "jazz piano" circles!  He accompanied Ma Rainey (blues song and dance), Johnny Dodds (clairinetist ) and Blind Blake (singer, guitarist) in blues, boogie and ragtime styles and brought a really refreshing and inventive quality to the styles.   His band, the Blythe Washboard Ragamuffins captured some serious grooves that are a pleasure to hear.  I have included a link to this below.   He recorded his Chicago Stomp in 1924, considered to be the first recorded example of Boogie Woogie.  He also led a series of recordings by various Chicago musicians known as the State Street Ramblers. They recorded in Richmond, Indiana which is about 66 miles from Indianapolis.  This is of interest because I located a meningitis epidemic in Indianapolis that began in 1929 with somewhere around 10 deaths.  Could be the connection....

       Jimmy Blythe  you tube piano rolls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkgdFqdxoYo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed962JM9ysY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z90U_O5YLBg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYVrohXbE-o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL_6pm-uo_g

Washboard Ragamuffins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJNIiflX0Qo&feature=related

Some of the best recordings on this compilation:  (these are amazing! - I have been able to find these on Rhapsody.com  and on  iTunes)

  Piano Boogie Woogie Volumes 1 and 2: 
      Hard Luck Blues
      Chicago Stomp
      Boogie Woogie Blues
      Society Blues
Various links including Chicago Stomp
http://www.redhotjazz.com/blythe.html