Steinway Artist, Richard Dowling has traveled the world playing Chopin, Beethoven and much of the repertoire one would expect from a top classical pianist. Richard is a music scholar as well. We discuss the differences between Ragtime and Novelty music and how it all grew into jazz.

Richard’s second appearance on Jazz Inspired. Although Richard fell in love with ragtime as a child, he didn’t make it a focus of his performances until the last few years, when, against the judgement of his agent and just about everyone else, he decided to record and perform the complete works of Scott Joplin. Now, with multiple sold-out concerts across the country—including Carnegie Hall, where he did Joplin’s fifty-three works in afternoon and evening sessions—and a highly acclaimed double CD, Richard has more than proved his point. I talked with Richard about this tour de force and the continuing appeal of this classic style of music.