Stride

Evolving from East Coast Ragtime in the 1920s, Stride is a virtuosic and dynamic piano style defined by the performer's left hand 'striding' between bass notes and chords. This technique established a robust rhythmic and harmonic foundation, liberating the right hand for intricate, syncopated melodies and competitive improvisation. Pioneered in Harlem by figures like *James P. Johnson* and *Fats Waller*, it became the piano's primary voice in early jazz, flourishing in rent parties and cutting contests. While its technical demands led to its eventual supersession, its powerful, orchestral approach to solo piano profoundly shaped the language of jazz keyboard for generations.