Christina Pepper is a solid pianist and prolific YouTube content creator; since meeting her and attending her symposium at the Scott Joplin Festival in 2023 I have been a devoted fan. Her CD/mp3 album A Little More Pepper (2024) is an amalgamation of pepper-themed rags, marches, and waltzes. Two of the pieces on the playlist are recently-penned compositions: Ghost Pepper Rag (Pjotr Kolster and Mate Pribelszky) and The Pied Pepper Rag (Cameron Lee Simpson), both from 2022.
Tempi are generally lively and ebullient. The sound of the upright piano played on A Little More Pepper is both characterful and well-tuned. Anyone wishing to purchase this pleasant album can visit ko-fi.com/christinapepper.
Brandon Byrne is a ragtime composer, performer, and scholar. Max Morath said of Byrne, “Brandon’s unique compositions display unparalleled gifts and hidden virtuosity. His music reflects the past and challenges the future. His playing will touch your soul.” For a full list of his compositions, please visit his website.
