piano riches...
After watching "The Sting" in 1973 it was over with.... no, it was just beginning. A foray into the record store was immediately followed by purchasing this album. I now happily own the cd, and Rifkin's playing still sounds fresh even though Joplin wrote it a hundred years ago.

Rifkin's intrpretations are TIMELESS
I was really surprised to find this recording in CD form. I went through somewhat of a classical music phase back in the '70's ,and i had all three of Rifkin's Scott joplin Albums.
This cd is a compilation of all three albums in one cd,featuring most of Vol. one and hiughligts of Vol.2 and Vol.3 ,but I wish all the works of Joshua Rifkins interpretations were released on CD. I miss his version of Sugar Cane Rag,Leola and Eugenia or The Chrysanthemum
I have my fingers crossed that they'll release a second CD with all those Piano rags that were left off this CD and some new interpretations as well!

Scott Joplin Rags by Joshua Rifkin
I bought the original on vinyl 30+ years ago. I loved it so much I bought a half dozen copies for friends and relatives. I wore it out and bought another album a year later. I had occasion to listen to it for the first time in years so bought the CD. What beautiful music!

My favourite jazz music
I have had Joshua Rifkin's Scott Joplin Piano Rags for more than 20 years and listened to them very often. Later when I bought SCott Joplin's pianola version I liked it much less. Joplin's music is superb and Rifkin's piano version brings its beauty up where it should be. The reason I bought it on the CD is to put it on my ipod! A marvellous record.

The Flair Just Isn't There
Rifkin performs these pieces to perfection- too perfect for my taste. Music (and rags in particular) is not about technical perfection, but that intangible something that resonates within us and moves us. The life, enthusiasm, emotion, soul - whatever you want to call it- just isn't there on this CD. To hear Joplin's great artistry sterilized like this is a real disappointment.