James P. Johnson
USA, 1916–1955
American pianist (1894-1955) and the central figure of Harlem stride piano. His striding left-hand patterns against a syncopated right hand set the technical basis for jazz piano in the 1920s.
MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced James P. Johnson and 5 artists James P. Johnson influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced James P. Johnson?
- Scott Joplin — Stride piano grew from ragtime — Johnson's art is the direct documented evolution of the Joplin tradition in New York.
Which artists did James P. Johnson influence?
- Duke Ellington — James P. Johnson was Ellington's teacher in Harlem stride piano.
- Art Tatum — James P. Johnson's stride piano was the other pillar of Tatum's technique — the Harlem left-hand tradition he inherited.
- Fats Waller — James P. Johnson was the young Waller's personal stride-piano teacher — a documented mentorship that launched Fats's career.
- Oscar Peterson — The stride of James P. Johnson is part of the older piano tradition Peterson absorbed before bop.
- Thelonious Monk — Monk grew up in the same New York neighbourhood as stride pioneer James P. Johnson and knew him as a teenager — the stride tradition is a foundation of Monk's rhythmic, percussive piano.