OH, HOW HE CAN PLAY! CHRIS DAWSON and “CALICO RAG”

This morning’s YouTube brought another brilliant surprise from pianist Chris Dawson — Nat Johnson’s 1914 “Calico Rag,” new to me, performed with clarity and style, and none of the stuffiness that sometimes creeps into “authentic” ragtime performance.  Chris offers the notes, but swings like mad at the same time:

Chris creates the soundtrack for our happiness.