The Carolina Shout - Ragtime and Jazz Piano with Ethan Uslan

In this episode, there is no theme. Ethan just plays a few tunes and yaps. You might still learn some things though, like the connection between "Georgia on My Mind" and Chase Bank. Other songs you will hear and perhaps learn a thing about include: "Beer Barrel Polka", "Love for Sale", and "Deep River."

In this episode, Ethan wields a sledgehammer and destroys Beethoven's hallowed Fur Elise. Then he re-enacts the Battle of San Juan Hill with musical cannon fire. The carnage continues as Ethan musically crashes two trains together (and the boilers explode, oops). Finally, Ethan gleefully plays the piano as Oh Susanna gets tied to the railroad tracks. Warning: this episode contains syncopated viole...

Ethan plays a new arrangement of one of his childhood favorites, "Heart and Soul." Then he serenades Kate with a tune about the harmful effects of smoking. Finally, Ethan revisits "Whispering," a song that strikes a chord with many a soft-spoken librarian.

Do not confuse this podcast episode with  The Philadelphia Story -   a famous 1940 film which I have never seen. Instead, expect Ethan to play some Philadelphia-related piano music while telling some Philadelphia-related stories. You will hear stories about Roy Spangler, composer of the Gunpowder Rag , as well as the story of the song Oh, Dem Golden Slippers , which is the theme song of the Mummer...

Join Ethan for a musical tribute to laziness! Let us honor the sleepy slothful slackers of song! Call in sick, put on your sweatpants, grab that bag of potato chips and tune in! 

In this gag-filled and bag-themed episode, Ethan plays the "Ragbag Rag" and attempts to change the name of his podcast. This results in a fierce legal battle with Frank Burton, host of the Ragbag Podcast. Ethan then turns his attention to the squishity-squashity "Beanbag Song," the theme song of the first late-night TV show ever. Then the regiment of marching-singing soldier Ethans perform "Pack u...

Ethan plays an assortment of African-American spirituals and some songs inspired by them. Selections include: "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," "Down by the Riverside," "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," and "Go Down Moses" (which has a fascinating history behind it). Songs inspired by spirituals include Gershwin's "Summertime" and Creamer/Layton's "Dear Old Southland." Amen! 

From 42nd Street to 12th Street, and from Beale Street to Basin Street, Ethan plays songs about famous thoroughfares. Unless he gets into a fight at Pee Wee's Saloon in Memphis. Or at the dog track. Please be careful, Ethan.

Ethan plays some songs inspired by the Mississippi River and its famous paddle steamer boats. Songs include "Ol' Man River," "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee," Jelly Roll Morton's "Steamboat Stomp," and Hoagy Carmichael's "Riverboat Shuffle."  

Happy 4th of July ! For this patriotic episode Ethan opens up with "Yankee Doodle Boy" followed by a Scott Joplin rag with a patriotic theme ("The Nonpareil"). Then, Ethan plays "Blaze Away," a rousing march inspired by Teddy Roosevelt's heroics in the Spanish-American War. Finally, Ethan plays Irving Berlin's immortal "God Bless America." Warning: Alex Trebek's snooty know-it-all attitude is mock...

In this episode, Ethan plays some of his favorite Oriental Fox-Trots, including "Song of India," "Hindustan," "Caravan," and "The Sheik of Araby." Put on your magnetic corset, hop aboard your camel, and get ready for an auditory adventure with the Rudolph Valentino of piano podcasting, Ethan Uslan. 

Certain songs give Ethan anxiety. So he pays a visit to the esteemed Dr. Zizmore, who forces him to face his pianistical fears. Enjoy an episode full of tunes that Ethan plays as part of his treatment. Will he be cured? Or will Ethan continue to be haunted in his dreams by the man-eating sea turtle?

Ethan welcomes academy-award nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg to the podcast studio. They talk about Jesse's musical interests, including "March of the Siamese Children" from the King and I (which Ethan plays on piano). Then, the duo performs a Jesse Eisenberg original entitled "Sports are Important to Men." Finally the two connect with their roots and sing Kosher-for-Passover versions of "By the B...

Ethan plays piano music that imitates banjo music. He starts off with "Ring de Banjo" by Stephen Foster and then plays "The Banjo" by HC Harris. Then Ethan plays the most famous piano-banjo piece of all-time: "The Banjo" by Louis Moreau Gottschalk. Finally, Ethan reads a poem about Gottschalk by Gwendolyn Brooks and talks about the musical exploitation of enslaved African-Americans. 

Ethan is preparing for a big concert at the Agness Scott College Observatory and Planetarium. So he plays some astronomical selections: Blue Moon, The Halley's Comet Rag, and Stars Fell on Alabama. Then Ethan opens up the phone lines and gets a request from an extra-terrestrial. That's when things get weird. 

Gina Marie from Chicago is back to sing songs about those three siblings from Mound, Minnesota who left an indelible mark on American music. Songs featured: "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," "Bei Mir Bistu Schoen," and Aurora.

Ethan pays homage to the great classical composer, Ethelbert Nevin, by playing three of his most famous works: "Mighty Like a Rose," "Narcissus," and "The Rosary." Ethan also plays a song about a sinful young lady who plays ragtime in church: "When Ragtime Rosy Ragged the Rosary." This episode is sponsored by Dr. McLaughlin's electric belt. 

On this episode, Ethan plays music that requires knocking on the piano. First, he plays the historically important Carolina Fox Trot, which has some clapping and knocking, and was actually the first published Fox Trot ever. Then, Ethan plays an original composition called the "Whack-a-Mole Rag" in which he tries to whack pesky musical moles. Finally, soprano Melinda Whittington pops in, gives Etha...

Gina Marie is back to sing songs about true crime. Hear the titillating story and song about Aaron Harris, the New Orleans serial killer who used voodoo magic to stay out of jail. Then, hear Gina sing "Stagger Lee," the song about an old St Louis murder. To lighten things up, Ethan creates a new song about a real Chinese criminal named Cai who painted a new lane on the road in order to ease traffi...

Ethan starts off by showing off his cockney accent in the English law enforcement classic "The Policeman's Holiday" (1899). Then he smoothly segues into a Titanic-themed program. "The Wreck of the Titanic" is a descriptive march from 1912 that depicts musically the events of that fateful voyage. Ethan's 8 year old son and budding flutist joins him for the "Nearer My God to Thee" moment. Then Ethan...

In this sports themed episode, Ethan syncopates basketball, football, baseball, sailboat racing, and horse racing. Ethan also answers a letter from a fan and gives him musical advice on how to get a girlfriend. Then the 1914 Chicago Federals baseball club reemerges from history's dustbin to make an appearance. Come for the Sweet Georgia Brown, stay for the relationship advice, athletic competition...

As an appetizer, Ethan offers up "Hold Tight (I Want Some Seafood Mama)" and then he starts slurping oysters, right into the microphone (rude!). Then, rather than eating an oyster, he sings a duet with it (Cole Porter's "Tale of the Oyster"). Finally Ethan nets two obscure pieces of mollusk music: "The Oyster Rag" and "The Dance of the Oyster and the Clam." The latter is a "sand dance" that will m...

Ethan kicks off the episode with "Tickled to Death" (1899) by Charles Hunter. From there, things take a morbid turn. Ethan indulges in Jelly Roll Morton's voodoo inspired "Dead Man Blues" (1926) and walks us through the curious ritual known as the New Orleans funeral. Ethan dispels the myths and explains how things were REALLY done in the Crescent City - with gang violence, ham and cheese sandwich...

Ethan duets with Gina Marie to kick off the show, with the song "It's All Right With Me" by Cole Porter. Then, Ethan launches into this episode's theme: songs about philandering. This leads to renditions of "If You Talk in Your Sleep, Don't Mention My Name" and "I Love My Wife, But Oh You Kid." Finally, Ethan shares an oddity called "Oh! You Chicken" and ends up clucking at a young lady walking do...

French crooner Michel Du Baguette opens the episode with "C'est Magnifique," from Cole Porter's musical "Can-Can" (1953). Ethan talks about the show and plays additional "Can-Can" selections including "I Love Paris" and "Mon Homme" (which wasn't from "Can-Can" but Ethan does whatever he wants). Also, Ethan sings the praises of Equifax with a fiery passion. Finally, Ethan plays the original Offenba...