Roy Bargy

Roy Bargy (1894-1974), like his contemporary Zez Confrey, took his musical inspiration not only from the imaginative stylings of ragtime pianists, but also from the technical/technological possibilities of the mechanical player piano, being employed by Imperial Piano Rolls in his early career. After recording for Victor with his own band, Bargy joined Isham Jones and later Paul Whiteman, for whom he created a number of impressive arrangements. Bargy was a virtuoso pianist as well as an accomplished composer and arranger, and appears in Whiteman's 1929 Hollywood film King of Jazz playing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.

Feedin' the Kitty is a whimsical and characteristic "novelty ragtime piece," originally cast for solo piano, that abounds in player-piano-like figurations and "futuristic" 1920s harmonies.

The foxtrot Get Lucky (1924), although based on a blues structure, is also a characteristic "novelty ragtime" piece. It is full of player-piano figurations and “futuristic” 1920s harmonies borrowed from Debussy and Ravel.

Nickel in the Slot is one of the most famous pieces by Bargy’s better-known contemporary, pianist "Zez" Confrey (1895-1971).

Notes by Roy Wiseman