Syncopations are moments in music when the rhythm is off the beat. The notes just come a bit later, earlier or skip the beat altogether. In jazz, but also in rock and pop, these are essential to make the music swing. Our mind focusses on the beat and is surprised to notice these off beat notes, they are putting the music off balance, making it more interesting.
Elite syncopations is a composition written in 1902 by Scott Joplin. This album adds some “rags” around that. All was played by the man himself, in 1903, and recorded for posterity using piano rolls. I wrote about those earlier. They are a fine way to get as close as we possibly can to the real thing. They still feel a bit stifled though: it is as if we tell Joplin to sit straight: go play monkey boy!