Mostly known as the 'Father of the Stride Piano,' James P. Johnson transformed music during the Harlem Renaissance (c. 1918–37). Through his compositions and performance style, he altered ragtime into a more ambitious musical presentation, incorporating elements of early jazz. He wrote more than 250 pieces of music, composed (or co-composed) eleven musicals, and was featured on over 400 recordings.

Musicians today have an abundance of access to record and put out albums thanks to the high quality that can now be achieved in home recording studios. Fans of traditional jazz can and still do buy new recordings of contemporary bands who specialize in this style of playing from a century ago. However, what we die-hard lovers of classic jazz yearn for most are the new discoveries of old records from the great masters of the 1920s and 1930s. We will spend the money on a 10 disc box set of reissued recordings if it includes one or two never before heard alternate takes. Sure, we now have three or four duplicate copies of all the other tracks, but listening to find out whether Armstrong or Hines played anything different on the alternate is worth every penny! Fans of stride piano should brace themselves as GHB Records presents to you this set of 21 never before heard alternates of James P. Johnson's 1944 solo and duet sides.