stride piano

American  

noun

1. a style of jazz piano playing in which the right hand plays the melody while the left hand plays a single bass note or octave on the strong beat and a chord on the weak beat, developed in Harlem during the 1920s, partly from ragtime piano playing.

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Etymology

Origin of stride piano

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

He also happens to be one of jazz’s most riveting pianists — a largely self-taught master of stride piano, with a lightning-fast right hand.

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2018

The movie time-travels back to the 1940s, and Sun Ra’s origins as a boogie-woogie and stride piano player.

From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2018

His mother taught elementary school, and his father, a self-taught stride piano player, owned a general store.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 15, 2016

Born in Chicago to a hardworking immigrant family, Manzarek started piano lessons early, beginning with Beethoven and Bach and progressing to stride piano, ragtime and boogie-woogie by the time he was 12.

From Washington Post • Aug. 27, 2015

The two girlfriends climb the stairs, led straight to the right place more by the stride piano pouring over the door saddle than their recollection of the apartment number.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison