ZEZ CONFREY

 Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (3 April 1895 – 22 November 1971) was an American composer and performer of novelty piano and jazz music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." Studying at the Chicago Musical College and becoming enthralled by French impressionists played a critical role in how he composed and performed music.

Early life and education

Confrey was born in Peru, Illinois, the youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Confrey. Aspiring to be a concert pianist, he attended Chicago Musical College and studied with private teachers. He later abandoned that idea for composing, encouraged by his oldest brother, James J. Confrey, an organist. By 1916 he was a staff pianist for Witmarks in Chicago. He also enlisted in the US Navy in 1917.

Career

"Afghanistan" (1920)

Duration: 2 minutes and 47 seconds.2:47

Piano roll from 1920 of Confrey playing "Afghanistan"

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"Kitten on the Keys" (1921)

Duration: 3 minutes and 34 seconds.3:34

Confrey's first hit, "Kitten on the Keys", performed by him

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After World War I, Confrey became a pianist and arranger for the QRS piano roll company. He also recorded for AMPICO's reproducing piano system, which was installed in upper-line pianos such as Mason & Hamlin and Chickering.

In 1921 Confrey wrote his novelty piano solo "Kitten on the Keys", inspired by hearing his grandmother's cat walk on the keyboard of her piano. It became a hit, and he went on to compose many other pieces in the genre."Dizzy Fingers" (1923) was Confrey's other biggest seller.

Following the 1920s, Confrey focused primarily on composing for jazz bands. He retired after World War II but continued to compose until 1959. He died at age 76 in Lakewood, New Jersey after suffering for many years from Parkinson's disease. He left behind more than a hundred piano works, songs and miniature operas, and numerous piano rolls, music publications and sound recordings.

Writing in 2007 David A. Jasen describes Confrey, alongside Roy Bargy, as still "firmly rooted in the folk tradition".