Greg Thibodeau - Darktown Strutters Ball - Piano

The old classic played on Greg's home 6'2" studio William Knabe piano built in 1896 based on the original Ragtime Rick's version and his first album.

[@momotwins7667]

Greg, this is so awesome! You are so talented! I've watched this video a ton of times. Please do some more!!! And thank you for sharing your talent.

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thank you! Will do!

[@4jeffstout]

Beautifully performed!! I could absolutely listen to an album of this type of music!

[@bonnienandino6942]

My mom used to play it just about like this👏👏👏 Memories

[@jimmymiller77]

All I can say is W O W !!!!!!!!!!!!! Fantastic Job. Thanks a million for posting..

[@tristaconklin7219]

My Great-Grandma, who was 99.9 years old when she died, could play this song very well on her old piano she had in her living room.

[@gregthibodeau6079]

That’s amazing. Sounds like a talented lady. Thanks for sharing!

[@souliersnoirs]

(Today Betty White died and she was 99.9, too.) I would love to have heard your Great-grandma play this song, too.

[@ILjobber1]

Dam good piano playing!

[@sthori01]

This is how my mama played it. As a child I marveled at her hands “jumping”. lol, she hit the keys with intent! She was born in ‘19 and died in’95. too young. This brought me back to that piano bench where I sat beside her as her fingers jumped. Thank you!

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thanks for sharing Shelly!

[@jeffnoe1224]

I miss listening to this at Rick’s.

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Me too sir!

[@christophebenz]

Super authentic playing! 🎉

[@tlee717]

Fantastic love the strutters ball

[@larryhoch237]

Fantastic version of this song! I felt like I was transported back to the 1920’s…

[@Micrographone]

Nice job! My granny was a jazzy pianist too... had her play this a lot for me when I was little. It brings back fond memories.

[@e.goldie6143]

Hey Greg, this version of Darktown Strutters Ball is the best I've heard....second best is Adam Swanson and Four Arrows' version on KZbin....and that's with 4 hands! Where can I buy a copy of the sheet music for this version of Darktown Strutters??

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Hello Goldie, this was a rendition I made up myself based on Ragtime Ricks recorded version from back in the 90's, so there isn't any sheet music. Sorry about that!

[@e.goldie6143]

@@gregthibodeau6079 Hello Greg. Thanks for that. I wish there was! You ever thought about making a piano roll of your version? I've heard there's a program that can translate a performance on piano into a piano roll, then that it can be transcribed onto sheet music. I'd love to play it. In the meantime, can I buy a copy of recording to play?

[@michael-ph3jn]

don't forget the late great allendale1962 channel. Go hear his versions on youtube. I've become a much better just listening to him

[@swamprad]

Dude, this is AWESOME! Share some more songs, please!

[@raymanbert740]

Sure great Greg. Much thanks. RRM

[@brettguy18]

Magnificent!

[@Flatfoot2282]

Holy cow !! What a great rendition of an old classic !! Very well performed

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thanks!

[@jubalcalif9100]

Wow ! Very good ! Kudos !!

[@gustavobraga582]

That was impressive! Very well done. Loved listening to you. Just subscribed, and I'm checking your other videos right now! Thanks for sharing your talent!

[@klausschenkwonschtauffenbe9424]

Кто здесь из Пост обзора

[@hashima7300]

Я

[@kiainoma]

=)

[@г-н.комментатор-т1ь]

Aga

[@superbill1752]

That does it! I am selling my piano. I will never be able to play like this fella. Great job. Keep up the good work. Thanks.

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thank you for the kind words all!

[@runner0075]

That klonky-tonky bad piano suits perfectly the style, indeed.

[@gustavobraga582]

Honestly.... "Like a Boss" definition in the dictionary should be updated to include a youtube link to this video! I really hope I can play like this someday :-)

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thanks Gustavo! Interesting fact: I used to sit at the piano for HOURS at a time everyday from when I was 10 to about the age of 15. I only got up to use the bathroom which I would wait until I almost peed my pants because I loved learning and playing the piano so much. Lol

[@gustavobraga582]

​@@gregthibodeau6079 Thats awesome Greg! Thanks for sharing this!! Where can I learn more about you? I simply loved your style and this rendition. Do you still play? Where are you from? Where we can find more? Do you intend to record and post more??? Cheers from Brazil

[@MichaelFClef]

Very nice. Thank you for sharing. I'm enjoying playing along with this on my upright bass.

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Wish we could jam!

[@fiddler1861]

Stride ON!

[@bcberryfarm]

That was really great!!

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thanks!

[@rowanbelt3612]

Terrific playing. If you don’t mind me making one suggestion, it sounds like there is an extra eighth note being inserted in the fill at 0:12 and every subsequent time you play it. It throws off the flow of the rhythm ever so slightly. Really though, awesome playing. Your rhythm is like a rock and the left hand chords sound like a banjo. Octaves also sounding great.

[@martinhix6786]

i like your presentations. not in any way am i slamming your piano, but i would love to hear you play something on a steinway, knabe grand, or kwai grand. i just think that the nuances you so skilly have in your playing would really be showcased on a nicely tuned instrument. at any rate, i always end up w/ a smile, when you play. Godspeed.

[@gregthibodeau6079]

martin hix actually, I’m playing on my 6’2” Knabe from 1896. It’s kind of a work in progress and the keys have been replaced, but still has the original “rocker” action. Hope to upgrade within the next couple years.

[@michaeltutty1540]

@@gregthibodeau6079 what a gorgeous instrument. The action is just right for music if that era. It does sound like it is due for tuning, but that is it. The bass strings may be a bit crystalized, but new ones can be wound to match the originals. That was done years ago to my 1903 Gerard Heintzman upright. Gerard Heintzman was owned by a different branch of the Heintzman Piano family, and prior to 1932 were one of the first line quality piano makers. They are not well known outside Canada but their instruments are incredible. I love hearing an old piano working right. Beautiful.

[@lavalampluva55401]

The Knabe is a perfect piano for this piece. Gives it a "honky tonk" kind of sound.

[@thomaspisarek6585]

Best rendition of this classic. Where can I buy the sheet music for this version?

[@gustavobraga582]

I'd love to purchase the sheet music as well!

[@gregthibodeau6079]

This was a rendition I made based off of how Ragtime Rick Grafing used to play it when I was growing up. He had recorded it years ago. I was basically “taught” to play by ear by Bob Milne many years ago. So I listened to Ragtime Rick’s version over and over and duplicated the best I could. I’ve always thought it was the best version of this tune as well, hence why I learned to play it that way lol. Unfortunately there is no sheet music.

[@gustavobraga582]

​@@gregthibodeau6079 Thanks Greg! There's always hope on the Internet. Maybe someone will be so amused as us and will transcribe this awesome rendition to us. (I see you @mlololoer) :-)

[@325diane]

Wow. Just wow.

[@HaydenBarrow]

Marvelous! Do you have any sheet music or instructional videos for this?

[@gregthibodeau6079]

I just replied about sheet music. But unfortunately, no there is not. See reply.

[@МистерПародист]

Че Реддит?

[@г-н.комментатор-т1ь]

++

[@criss719]

Wow! I'll never play that song again. You took me to school 🤦‍♂️

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Thanks Criss! Would love to hear your rendition!

[@RoryVanucchi]

👍

[@neon8410]

Wow!!!

[@thatrecord5313]

Hmm, I don't know, I think that left hand could use some more *bass*

[@gregthibodeau6079]

Lol yeah I’ve always had a strong left hand.

[@thatrecord5313]

@@gregthibodeau6079 Hey! Never a bad thing with a stomping song like this. I would be offended if you played some classics without a good amount of bass. This video was perfect with all that bass. And hey, the piano likes it so much, it's grooving and moving too! Ha! Cheers!

[@gustavobraga582]

LMAO

[@tiredofthisplace509]

Выглядит сложным. Очень сложным.

[@jamesblank2024]

Sounds like there's some rhythm machine going.

[@peterjones746]

His piano sounds like a banjo!

[@osrs-yami]

Amazing!!!!!! Do you ever write it down? One of the best renditions on KZbin for sure!!