I certainly enjoyed getting to know Richard Zimmerman, Adam Swanson
and Fredrick Hodges a bit, and hearing their playing, over the
weekend in Sacramento, California, at the Sacramento Ragtime Festival.
I was really very impressed with their music knowledge.  Adam showed
me Johnny Maddox's original pocket watch, which he brings to all his
performances.

Adam played exquisitely on a 7' Mason & Hamlin model B, discussing the
various types of vintage blues and ragtime pieces.  A one-hour concert,
he played some Arthur Marshall, Chauf Williams and Less Copland tunes.
He wore a vest with Johnny's watch.  The atmosphere was really relaxed.
What a treat!

Hodges was in a duel with Jeff Barnhart to see who could wear the most
elaborate socks during the festival.  While Jeff probably topped Hodges
in technique, I don't think he went away with more colorful socks.

Both Jeff Barnhart and Hodges have formidable technique.  Hodges
played through the Gershwin standards, such as "That Certain Feeling,"
"Swanee," and "Novelette In Fourths."  I asked Hodges if he ever heard
the Duo-Art Gershwin roll of "Limehouse Blues," and he hadn't -- which
reminds me I still have to send him my transcription of that!

After the concert we had a lively discussion about the music.  We have
a unique responsibility to keep this music alive and healthy.  The world
needs us.  Our mission is to keep motivated in our quest to bring this
unique music to others and keep the flame burning.

I also talked with the resident technician after the concert about the
different types of pianos.  He was very open about the quality of the
pianos being offered.  Then I played the Steinway after he finished
tweaking the action irregularities to demonstrate the improvement
and consistent tonal response.  The voicing operation is generally an
in-house procedure and to do it properly it should be done with the
action in the piano to elicit the finer detail work rendering optimum
uniform and consistent tonal response.

I also talked with Adam about the Johnny Maddox LPs, "World's Greatest
Piano Rolls" LPs, which are among the first commercially important
recordings of player piano rolls.  There are seven volumes total, and
the last three seem to be harder to find and have a different cover.

In fact, J. Lawrence Cook issued rolls on QRS with the designation
"Played by Johnny 'Crazy Otto' Maddox."  The only one I've ever seen is
"Crazy Otto Rag," which is clearly Cook and sounds nothing like Johnny.
I'd be very curious if anyone has other QRS rolls labeled "Played By
Johnny Maddox."

Nathan Bello