Nick Pugh writes: 'A Little Ragtime Dance was composed around 2000 and revised a few years later as a piece to end a small series of recitals I was giving at the time. It was built from the piano-part upwards, based on the 'block movement' and diatonic harmony of the Joplin-style rags. This is why the piano part is based around the repetitive rhythmical figure with block chords in the right hand, and mostly centred towards the lower half of the instrument. The melody was crafted to be catchy and tuneful - always a great way to end a recital! The later sections will work an octave lower if you prefer.

Coming from the jazz tradition in my own playing career, I would encourage the performers to add any embellishments to either the harmony or the melodic line as they see fit, but would urge them to keep within the early ragtime style - think Joplin not Jarrett!'

Nick Pugh was born in Wales but grew up in Luton, Bedfordshire. Learning cello and piano in his early years, he then moved onto electric bass at 14 and double bass at 16. He graduated from Brunel University with a First Class Honours (BA) Arts, the University Prize and the Sheridan Instrument Prize.

As a performer Nick performs across a diverse cross section of styles of music, dividing his career equally between double bass and electric basses. Jazz has always been important to him and he has worked with many of the UK's leading jazz soloists and has worked throughout Europe and the UK in Big Bands, recently with the British Philharmonic Big Band, Matthew Herbert Big Band and the Glenn Miller Orchestra UK.

Nick has played for a variety of shows and tours including The L.A. Rat Pack at the Opera House in Cairo, the Russell Watson UK tour with the London Concert Orchestra, and in Chicago, Legally Blonde, Spamalot and Dirty Dancing.

Nick Pugh also works as a recording engineer and producer for his own company, Balanced Bass Media, and has recorded and mixed many albums to great acclaim across the UK and Europe.