Harvey Roehl drew attention to the recordings of Erles Jones in MMD
990925.  As he said, Erles is a superb pianist in the 'syncopated
piano' tradition, and has made a couple of CDs now.  Shellwood
Productions has grown from the concert series organised by the UK's
Billy Mayerl Society, and has produced some great material.  Harvey
said there was no mechanical music link, but there is, I am glad to
say...

Erles' true inspiration is Raie DaCosta -- another South African --
rather than Pauline Alpert.  Most syncopated piano enthusiasts would
rate Raie DaCosta even higher than Pauline Alpert in the pantheon of
great pianists!  Working as she did in the UK, she was never recorded
on roll, which is a real pity.  However, Erles has made some piano roll
recordings, although only one has been issued so far, that being an
Andrew Lloyd-Webber item (very nicely done but definitely not
syncopated piano).  We wait in hope that some really snappy pieces may
be issued one day.  The rolls are for Mike Boyd's Universal Music Roll
Company (no web site), and are produced only sporadically these days.
Whet your appetite and get a CD or two while waiting for the roll!

Julian Dyer