Keep off the Grass

James P. Johnson's 1921 phonograph recordings of his own compositions, including Keep off the Grass as well as Harlem Strut, Carolina Shout and Worried and Lonesome Blues were, along with Jelly Roll Morton's recordings of 1923, among the first jazz piano solos to be put on record. Carolina Shout, composed around 1918, is a technically challenging piano work that became a test-piece for contemporary pianists: Duke Ellington and Fats Waller learned it note for note from the piano roll Johnson recorded.

James Price Johnson (February 1894 – November 1955) was an American pianist and composer. A pioneer of stride piano, he was one of the most important pianists in the early era of recording, and
like Jelly Roll Morton, one of the key figures in the evolution of ragtime into what was eventually called jazz. Johnson was a major influence on Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, and Fats Waller, who was his student. Johnson composed many hit songs, including the unofficial anthem of the Roaring Twenties, The Charleston, and he remained the acknowledged king of New York jazz pianists through most of the 1930s. Johnson's artistry, influence on early popular music, and contributions to musical theatre are often overlooked, and as such, he has been referred to by musicologist David Schiff as The Invisible Pianist.

Jock McKenzie studied trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester where he was a joint recipient of the college’s concerto prize. From 1987 Jock based his musical career in Hampshire, working as a freelance trumpeter, conductor, composer, arranger and brass teacher. Jock is a former Professional Leader (Brass) for Hampshire Music Service and was the Director of the Hampshire County Youth Band from 2004 until 2020. It is the mix of all of these musical roles that has led to Jock establishing a reputation as a leading creator of brass music resources, particularly in the field of education and brass ensemble music. In 2020 Jock was awarded an “Honorary Fellowship of the University of Winchester” for services to music education. Currently Jock is working part-time for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; providing tuition for their Brass Teaching Module. In 2024 Jock was given the award for “Services to Youth” by Brass Bands England.