Bits or Pieces-Tom Brier Improvises a Rag 2016

While reviewing the video shot at 2016 party for Kitty Wilson, I came across this footage of Tom Brier imrovising an impromptu composition to accompany a video pan around the room. Of course, Tom came up with a complete four-theme ragtime piece complete with introduction and interlude. Listening are pianists Elliott Adams and Frederick Hodges along with our hosts Bob and Bonnie Gonzalez and others. It would have been nice if Tom had been able to polish the tune into a finished composition, but that sadly was never to be.

[@Tarzoq]

I'm so thankful for these recordings, whenever I see a new video of Tom turn up I get filled with happiness and joy. I can't believe how quickly he could improvise that on request, I have seen him do that before but I still can't wrap my head around it. I also appreciate you not cutting out the parts when he talks!! 🥰

[@gustavobraga582]

We all are! Thanks to Lewis and so many others that allowed us to get to know Tom, even from thousands of miles away. 😊🎉

[@FSAPOJake]

Watching previously-unseen Tom Brier content is both awesome, but heartbreaking. This was right before the accident that stopped him from being able to play like this ever again.

[@KangaZune]

What happened

[@frankf2902]

@@KangaZuneTom was in a bad car accident in 2016 that left him paralyzed. He's still with us, but he'll never be able to play piano again

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Well he can play a bit with one hand, so never say never.

[@pi5549]

@@andrewbarrett1537Where did you find this information? Can you say more?

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@andrewbarrett1537 He's never made any significant progress and Ron, who seems to have been a close friend of Tom, seems pretty confident that this is it.

[@gustavobraga582]

The ascending bass octaves at 1:35 and descending bass octaves at 2:00 with intervals between left and right hands are one of my favorite parts. How can someone come up with this kind of stuff on the spot?? 🤯🤯

[@gustavobraga582]

Hey Lewis! I'm thrilled to see some "new" performances of Tom here! I just noticed that there's another brand new Eric Marchese video too! That is sooo valuable for all the Tom fans out there! Thank you very much!!!

[@guymandudely324]

I had a neighbor in Flatbush who couldn't read a note of music but could play stride all day long. He watched a player piano when he was a kid and nobody told him that it was physically impossible to play that many notes at the same time. Lol

[@tonymc3817]

Modern day Father of Rag

[@jpsm4002]

Always nice to find another video of Tom playing.

[@chlhpua]

What an amazing improvisation! 😍

[@johnny2x487]

Lots of tenths and more jazzy, didnt know tom could stride like this holy

[@stevejeffrey11]

some nice blues-y riffs too

[@johnny2x487]

@@stevejeffrey11 yep. sure was some blues in there.

[@deceasedblue]

Crazy improvisation skills ❤ love you tom

[@terrotorotbart8319]

Thank you so much for uploading this! Everything I've seen points towards Tom being a genius improviser.

[@leifvejby8023]

There, at 0:10, that mischievous glint, he knows what he will be playing!

[@wheelmanmitch]

Excellent improvisation as always! Thanks for sharing :)

[@78chuck]

Thank you, just thank you!

[@bandgeekdad5825]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@DecafToaster740]

Thank you for sharing!

[@ashleyisachild]

WOw so incredible!

[@zandatsu07]

We need more of these

[@regalsurvivor3418]

Love this man's musical gift

[@robertshrewsbury5067]

Thank you, I enjoy Tom's work.

[@cassiuscollectio6553]

I'm crying in joy right now, haha. Thank you very much, Unigon!

[@CrowClouds]

Tom was so talented that God got jealous ;_; Love you Tom

[@MichaelMike-ob2gb]

Ignorant comment

[@cougar2013]

Imagine one person having more talent than the ENTIRE hip hop industry. And Tom is not the best piano player in the world, though he happens to bring me to tears 😢

[@pi5549]

He might just be the greatest ragtime improviser in recorded history. Unless anyone's recorded anything better...? in which case post a link!

[@TheJimbob1603]

Nice neckbeard!

[@pi5549]

Were y'all not just a little bit tempted to kick off a Saloon fight? Be honest :)

[@Persun_McPersonson]

If we want honesty, wild west saloons didn't play ragtime because they predate the genre; people associate rags with the wild west because of Hollywood.

[@pi5549]

@@Persun_McPersonson Good intel, I still want a Saloon fight tho'.

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@pi5549 You wanna go, Bro? Let's do it right now!

[@KawhackitaRag]

@@Persun_McPersonson There was definitely ragtime played in urban saloons from the mid 1890s until Prohibition. Also maybe in later gold and silver rush towns / camps during the ragtime era. Ragtime spread across the country pretty quickly (although syncopated music had been played before it was called ragtime, so it wasn't completely earth-shattering).

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@KawhackitaRag Sure, but not in the Willd West, which is what most people think of.

[@TheArchitectOfDreams]

Tom doesn't play the piano. He is the Piano.

[@Persun_McPersonson]

He certainly doesn't play the piano, not since his crippling injury in 2016.

[@deadbydebt6859]

@@Persun_McPersonson what a way to tell someone that

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@deadbydebt6859 Yes, a bit dark..

[@bencarter8324]

If Tom can spontaneously produce something of this caliber, it demonstrates the exceptional quality of his more prominent works, which require days or even weeks of composition.

[@gustavobraga582]

Can't get tired of this one!! It's been playing for a while here!

[@bencarter8324]

@@gustavobraga582 Right? It's grown on me a lot. First time listening I thought it was alright but now I love it.

[@gustavobraga582]

@@bencarter8324Absolutely!

[@andrewbarrett1537]

He also spontaneously improvised "Skunk Hollow Rag" in one sitting, if you can believe that.

[@gustavobraga582]

@@andrewbarrett1537 wow

[@pjotrkolster]

Oh man this is a great find!! So glad I got this in my recommendations. :) It's so sad we won't see this happening anymore...

[@daveluttinen2547]

GOAT. The A section reminded me of an Eubie Blake piece, but soon after it became pure Tom. How is he doing? Always thinking good thoughts. This was a wonderful improvisation.

[@angelok.711]

Great improvisation! Thanks! Is there more from this session?

[@unigonfilms99]

As I remember, nothing special (or things I didn't already use in the Kitty video.) Tom did play a couple of tunes with Elliott Adams and a too fast (IMHO) version of "Chicken Chowder." I have hours of live AUDIO recordings of Tom and probably some poor VHS-quality video, captured by the late Ken Ebi which I don't believe has ever been posted. Maybe there are things from the West Coast Ragtime Festival that I haven't yet posted. I didn't really begin to take video recordings until shortly before Tom was in the disastrous accident.

[@bencarter8324]

@@unigonfilms99 Do not regret not taking enough videos before his accident. I am incredibly grateful for the ones we already have especially the ones recorded in this day. If it wasn't for people filming Tom, I would have never even known of his existence.

[@otavianocarvalho8716]

legend....

[@doctormahrio5226]

Out of the rest of the recording with Tom. This is the best one that shows the reactions of all the attendees.