Fats Waller

Look for solo piano sides such as Handful of Keys and his 1930s recordings with Fats Waller and His Rhythm. His left hand keeps the stride bass and chord pattern moving while the right hand adds comic timing and fast melodic runs.

Yes. Ain't Misbehavin' is credited to Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, and Andy Razaf, and it became one of Waller's signature songs after appearing in the 1929 revue Hot Chocolates.

Waller was a serious Harlem stride pianist who learned from the same tradition as James P. Johnson and Willie 'The Lion' Smith. His comic vocals made him famous, but his piano technique and compositions made him central to 1930s jazz.

Waller was also a major jazz organist, especially on theater and pipe organ recordings. That background helped explain the big, orchestral feeling in some of his keyboard arrangements.