Ethan Leinwand plays "The Memphis Blues" (by WC Handy, 1912)

Here's a great blues from the ragtime era, W.C. Handy's "Memphis Blues". Also known as "Mister Crump", because of the borrowed melody from the 2nd strain, this tune looks and plays a lot like a rag. It's a 3 strain piece, with a common modulation for the 3rd strain. In this piece, however, the 3rd (and 1st) strain is in a 12 bar blues form. This is one of the earliest published pieces to be called a "blues." 1912 and the following years would see an explosion of blues-titled pieces.
People play this tune in many different ways and feels, but I prefer to play it more like a rag from the era. I'm not swinging or dragging the beat here, just romping through it!

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