Listened to the music with Bolcom's score in front of me. This album is obviously a labor of love. There is a photo in the score of John Marsh with William Bolcom. What a priceless gift for a musician to have a relationship with the composer. something we pianists don't have when it comes to Mozart. (unless we channel!). The music is elegantly performed - a valuable resource for those learning new music, and lovers of rag. In the "Serpent's Kiss" the tapping on the piano is not recorded loud enough and some of the excitement drive and fervor of that particular piece is lost. I heard this piece performed recently by a passionate young 17 year old pianist and it brought down the house. Although Mr. Marsh's is more controlled and accurate I wish it had some of that excitement. Fine work by a talented artist.

I disagree with the negative review. John Murphy's delivery is sweet,flowing, lilting with a beautiful touch of rubato. I feel like I'm swinging on a hammock, on a relaxing adventure when I hear him play these rags.

What could have been a (much-needed) idiomatic and refreshing collection of William Bolcom's Piano Rags is instead a deep disappointment. I wish I could say that Mr. Murphy had a talent for ragtime, but there is a certain rhythmic swing (you can hear it in Mr. Bolcom's own recording of "Graceful Ghost") that escapes him. Foursquare with an occasional misplaced accent to make it all that much more painful, I couldn't bear to keep listening past the first few tracks. Save your money and hope someone does it right someday.