In this episode, Ethan starts off with Fats Waller's VIPERS DRAG and he summons his inner Mr. Rogers for a Harlem-style WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? For Christmas, Ethan plays two syncopated versions of SILENT NIGHT and for the love of hearty, durable fabrics (and the people who wear them), Ethan performs THE CALICO RAG. Finally, Ethan wraps it up with one more Mr. Roger's tune (IT'S SUCH A GREAT FEELING).
The Carolina Shout presents a terrifying Halloween Special. Featuring BEWITCHED (Rodgers/Hart), NIGHTMARE (Artie Shaw), BLACKOUT BOOGIE (Freddie Slack) and SPOOKY SPOOKS (Edward Claypoole).
Ethan's Oktoberfest Special starts out with intoxicated antics UNDER THE ANHEUSER BUSH. Then, a sobered-up and repentant Ethan offers a prayer and musical offering (GAMBRINUS POLKA) to King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer. After playing a Viennese-style waltz (IN A BEER GARDEN WALTZING WITH YOU), Ethan is visited by none other than King Gambrinus himself. The King informs us, among other things, that IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER.
Ethan plays some preludes. Selections include PRELUDE TO A KISS (Duke Ellington), RUSSIAN RAG (by George L. Cobb - based on Rachmaninoff's C# Minor Prelude), BLUE PRELUDE (Gordon Jenkins/Joe Bishop), and CHOPIN'S A MAJOR PRELUDE in the style of Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton. As an interlude between preludes, Ethan shares his original composition entitled CONTENTED COWS.
Ethan plays a couple tunes by Mabel Wayne, who was the master of romantic Latin-tinged waltzes: "In A Little Spanish Town," "Ramona," and "It Happened in Monterey." Along the way Ethan talks about Ramona-related history and plays an obscure Gershwin cowboy song called "Cactus Time in Arizona."
Ethan reminisces about his teenage years, especially his piano lessons with jazz pianist/composer Dan Crisci. Songs include "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" by James Thornton, "I Should Care" by Cahn/Stordahl/Weston and "Mr B.G." by Dan Crisci. Ethan also takes a few moments to croon a tune about Game of Thrones.
In this episode, Ethan opens up with a 1906 mock ballad entitled "Don't Go In the Lion's Cage." Then, after opining on the importance of properly training lions, Ethan pays tribute to his childhood piano teacher with John Philip Sousa's "Lion Tamer March." And as a grand finale, Ethan sticks his head in the lion's mouth and plays "The Lion Tamer Rag."
Ethan plays a new arrangement of one of his childhood favorites, “Heart and Soul.” Then he serenades Kate with a tune about the harmful effects of smoking. Finally, Ethan revisits “Whispering,” a song that strikes a chord with many a soft-spoken librarian.
Do not confuse this podcast episode with The Philadelphia Story - a famous 1940 film which I have never seen. Instead, expect Ethan to play some Philadelphia-related piano music while telling some Philadelphia-related stories. You will hear stories about Roy Spangler, composer of the Gunpowder Rag, as well as the story of the song Oh, Dem Golden Slippers, which is the theme song of the Mummers Parade. And as a grand finale, Ethan tells his own epic Philadelphia story about the time he battled a nasty stomach bug and the only thing that could save him was John Philip Sousa's Liberty Bell March.