This four-CD recording is scheduled for release on the centennial of the day that Scott Joplin died. He died on April 1, 1917.

promotion, Scott Joplin: The Complete Rags, Waltzes and Marches

In the accompanying photo to the above audio excerpt,
Scott Joplin is on the left, and William "Bill" Appling is on the right.

The production seems to be complete, but the promotion lacks funding, so an Indiegogo campaign is planned. Won't start until February 15.

There exist a number of recent recordings of Joplin's piano music, so this recording does have competition.

Bill Appling started out as a concert pianist (student of Leonard Shure, an Artur Schnabel assistant), and aspired to be a conductor (Kulas Fellowship assistant to Maestro George Szell at the Cleveland Orchestra). It will surprise few who know the classical music scene in North America in particular, to learn that being an African-American worked against him in both specialties. There were two other musical fields open to him, where he earned a living and supported his family:
teaching piano to piano students;
and conducting choruses, choirs, and glee clubs, long an acceptable place for musicians associated with the African-American "spiritual" choral singing.
He had generations of pupils, of whom I am blessed to be one.

William T. Appling 1932 - 2008