Zez Confrey

Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (April 3, 1895 – November 22, 1971)^[1] was an American composer and performer of piano music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys," and "Dizzy Fingers."

Life and career

Confrey was born in Peru, Illinois, United States,^[1] the youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Confrey. After World War I he became a pianist and arranger for the QRS piano roll company.^[1] He also recorded for the AMPICO Company, which made piano rolls for their reproducing player piano mechanisms, which were installed in pianos such as the Mason&Hamlin, and Chickering to name a few. His novelty piano composition "Kitten on the Keys," released in 1921, became a hit, and he went on to compose many other pieces in the same genre.^[2] This piece was inspired by a cat at his grandmother's house that he discovered prancing up and down the piano keyboard. "Dizzy Fingers" (1923) was Confrey's other ragtime biggest seller.^[2]

After the 1920s he turned more and more toward composing for jazz bands. He retired after World War II but continued to compose occasionally until 1959. He died in Lakewood, New Jersey after suffering for many years from Parkinson's disease.^[1] He left behind more than a hundred piano works, miniature operas, and songs, plus numerous piano rolls, music publications, and recordings.

List of known works

For piano unless otherwise indicated.

• "By the Waters of Minnetonka" (1915) (for voice & piano or orchestra)
• "Afghanistan" (1920)
• "My Pet" (1921)
• "Kitten on the Keys" (1921)
• "You Tell 'em Ivories" (1921)
• "Poor Buttermilk" (1921)
• "Greenwich Witch" (1921)
• "Kitten on the Keys" - song (1922)^[3]
• "Stumbling" (1922)
• "Stumbling – Paraphrase" (1922)
• "Coaxing the Piano" (1922)
• "Dumbell" (1922)
• "Tricks" (1922)
• "Nickel in the Slot" (1923)
• "Dizzy Fingers" (1923)
• "Three Little Oddities" (1923) (for piano or violin and piano)
  • "Impromptu"
  • "Romanza"
  • "Novelette"
• "African Suite" (1924)
  • "High Hattin'"
  • "Kinda Careless"
  • "Mississippi Shivers"
• "Anticipation" (1924)
• "Charleston Chuckles" (1925)
• "Fantasy – Jazz Arrangement" (1925)
• "Humorestless" (1925)
• "Flower Song" (1925)
• "Spring Song" (1925)
• "Home Sweet Home" (1925)
• "Melody in F" (1925)
• "Traumerei" (1925)
• "Fantasy – Classical" (1926)
• "Jay Walk" (1927)
• "Jack in the Box" (1927)
• "Walse Mirage" (1927)
• "Sparkling Waters" (1928)
• "Concert Etude" (1929)
• "Heaven's Garden" (1931)
• "Heaven's Garden – Song" (1931)
• "Moods of a New Yorker" (1932)
  • "At Dusk"
  • "Movie Ballet"
  • "Relaxation"
  • "After Theatre – Tango"
• "Buffoon" (1932)
• "Champagne" (1932)
• "Desert Dance" (1932)
• "In the South of France" (1932)
• "Indian Prayer" (1932)
• "Phantom Cadets" (1932)
• "Wistfullness" (1932)
• "Grandfather's Clock" (1933)
• "Sittin' on a Log Pettin' My Dog" (1933)
• "Smart Alec" (1933)
• "Giddy Ditty" (1935)
• "Rhythm Venture" (1935)
• "Arabian Maid" (1935)
• "A Heart Like the Ocean" (1935)
• "Lullaby from Mars" (1935)
• "Mouses' Hooves" (1935)
• "Tin Pan Symphony" (1935)
• "The Birds' Carnival" (1935)
• "Blue Tornado" (1935)
• "Rag Doll Dimples" (1935)
• "Audacity" (1936)
• "Meandering" (1936)
• "Tap Dance of the Chimes" (1936)
• "Ultra-Ultra" (1936)
• "Home-Run on the Keys" (1936)
• "Midsummer's Nightmare" (1936)
• "Motif Du Concert" (1936)
• "Wise Cracker Suite" (1936)
  • "Yokel Opus"
  • "Mighty Lackawanna"
  • "The Sheriff's Lament"
• "Sugar Dance" (1936)
• "Sunshine from the Fingers" (1936)
• "Sport Model Encore" (1937)
• "The Hobble De Hoy" (1938)
• "That Old Piano Roll Band" (1943)
• "Dancing Shadow" (1944)
• "Elihu's Harmonica" (1944)
• "Parade of the Jumping Beans" (1944)
• "Pickle Pepper Polka" (1944)
• "Tune For Mademoiselle" (1944)
• "Amazonia" (1945)
• "Butterfly" (1945)
• "Flutter By, Butterfly" (1945)
• "Rag Doll Carnival" (1945)
• "Four Candy Pieces" (1949)
• "Song of Thanksgiving" (1952)
• "Four Circus Pieces" (1959)
• "Fourth Dimension" (1959)

Selected discography

• Zez Confrey: Creator of the Novelty Rag, Zez Confrey (1976)
• The Dancing Twenties, Various Artists (1976)
• The Piano Roll Artistry of Zez Confrey, Zez Confrey (1982)

References

• Rags and Ragtime by Jasen and Tichenor, Dover, 1978.

External links