Adam Swanson’s boisterous, exuberant original rag The Strater Shuffle is a treat. Its thick chords and “walking” left hand tenths are sonically influenced by Tom Brier, whose music Swanson performs expertly. The Strater Shuffle is most appropriate as a concert showpiece, deriving its namesake from Swanson’s favorite performing venue, the Historic Strater Hotel in Durango, CO. Two minor key moments—B-flat minor and E-flat minor in the B and C sections respectively—contrast nicely with the rest of the piece.
The sheet music for The Strater Shuffle (cover shown, designed by Vincent Matthew Johnson)—as well as a top quality recording of the piece on Swanson’s Revival Ragtime CD (Rivermont catalogue BSW-2245)—can be purchased at adamgswanson.com.
