Consisting of five short boogie-woogie pieces. While there were previous instances of boogie-woogie-style pieces included in miscellaneous collections, this is the first album entirely dedicated to boogie-woogie. It strongly impresses upon the listener Rocerol's proficiency in boogie-woogie composition.

Dedicated to the composer's cousin (To my cousin, Karen Carpenter Niklaus). Note: This is not Karen Carpenter of The Carpenters.

The preface states: "I was already playing boogie by the time I was nine years old. The late Carver Blanchard, a friend of my parents from New Orleans, taught me several boogie patterns, and I have never forgotten them. If you throw a pebble into a pond, the ripples spread far beyond imagination. Thank you, Carver."

Rocerol, who grew up in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, spent his childhood familiarizing himself with a wide range of genres beyond classical music, alongside his classical lessons. As stated in the preface, he made the essence of boogie-woogie and blues, learned directly from professionals in the field, a lifelong sustenance, and fully utilized it in his later compositions.

This work allows for a natural familiarity with basic boogie-woogie patterns at the level of Czerny's Op. 299 (30 Etudes).

Rocerol's friend, Julie Rivers, commercially recorded the third and fourth pieces of this collection with a jazz band setup, adding drums and bass to the piano. However, for regular playing, such elaborate arrangements are not necessary. The pieces stand on their own even without drums or bass.

Without even needing to cite examples like Barber's Excursions or Bernstein's West Side Story, an understanding of boogie-woogie is indispensable for anyone from a classical background engaging with American music. It can be considered a practical work comparable to Leo Alfassy's renowned Boogie Woogie Hanon, alongside Jazz Hanon and Blues Hanon.

Contents

• Down-Home Boogie (With gusto, 4/4, G major)
• Sweet-Talkin’ Boogie (Moving along, 4/4, D major)
• Boogie Blast (Fast and sturdy, 4/4, C major)
• Laid-Back Boogie (Easy does it, 12/8, F major)
• Steppin’-Out Boogie (With energy, 4/4, C major)