Comments for Jenks, Glenn, Easy Winners

I hate this guy. His music SUCKS!!!!

classic and original piano ragtime solos.

I'm amused by the only comment about this recording. "I hate this album; it SUCKS!!!!" is what it says. I wonder how much of it this reviewer has listened to, and what kind of music he/she regularly tries to assimilate. Since I am the one who made this recording, I certainly have a stake in what people think about it; but I have to say that it doesn't suck. In fact it is an engaging and intelligent piece of work which many people have enjoyed. Any other comments out there? Is anyone else really listening seriously to interesting music, or is all of this internet review stuff just a lot of hooey? Glenn Jenks

I have been reviewing ragtime recordings for various ragtime publications since 1978. I currently have a website (www.ragtimers.org/reviews/) that lists reviews of the latest recordings. Over the past 26 years I feel that my credentials have been established within the ragtime community and beyond. I reviewed the "Easy Winners" CD for The Rag Times when it was released in 1996. Here are some quotes from that review: "I like the way Glenn Jenks plays ragtime. His approach is confident and authoritative, whether it be a delicate pianissimo passage or a forte run of strident octaves. His faster tempos sparkle with life; slower passages are often sentimental but not maudlin." "This disc is a striking example of how ragtime should be played: positive but not overbearing, delicate but not cloying, innovative yet familiar and on occasion with tongue firmly planted in cheek. The program is an outstanding mix of favorites and discoveries, both old and new. The liner notes are highly informative and the piano is well miked with great presence. On top of that, with the release especially of "Sosua" and "Queen of Violets," Glenn Jenks makes a major move out of the derivative mold and creates a sound that is assuredly his own. This CD is a strong contender for Album of the Year." Anyone whose sole comment about a CD - any CD - is "it sucks" is espousing some sort of personal hate agenda that exceeds the bounds of intelligent reporting. --Jack Rummel

It's rather obvious that whoever the "reviewer" is certainly has no understanding of, or appreciation for, really good music played by a masterful artist. Ragtime music is the very first, original American music that spawned what we today call jazz. It was the first syncopated music and has been appropriately described as "happy music". I seriously doubt the "reviewer" has ever attended a performance by Glen Jenks. Had he/she done so, that person might well have a different outlook. Glen is a master and his album "Easy Winners" is a superb example of the best ragtime music available. To the "reviewer", I say YOU SUCK! (Read that again, "reviewer", YOU SUCK!) Go find something constructive to do rather than trashing a fine album by a superb pianist.

The so-called "review" at the top of the page is hardly worth acknowleging except for the fact that it trashes a really first rate recording by one of the best pianist/composers in the world of ragtime. It's just incomprehensible and Mr. Anonymous needs to clean out his ears, pay attention and grow up. Lewis Motisher