Earl Hines Piano Man CD

As a core sample taken from the early to middle portion of his long career, Piano Man captures the essence of Earl "Fatha" Hines. The listener is meant to begin with five unaccompanied piano appetizers from 1939, 1940, and 1941; to relish the "Blues in Thirds" that Hines recorded with Sidney Bechet and Baby Dodds in 1940; dig into 16 classic big band sides recorded between 1939 and 1942; then savor four beautiful Fats Waller tributes waxed in early 1944 with Al Casey and Oscar Pettiford. For dessert, there's a V-Disc take of the "Boogie Woogie on St. Louis Blues" with Hines in the company of Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, and the Paul Baron Orchestra. There are plenty of reasons -- 27 outstanding tracks, in fact -- for this album having consistently received top honors and highest critical acclaim. As both an introduction to and a celebration of the life and work of Earl Hines, the people he worked with, and the music they all lived and died for, this is as good as it gets. That's not hype. It's the honest truth. ~ arwulf arwulf

2006 reissue featuring five bonus tracks of this album, selected as one of the 100 best Jazz albums of all time. Features Hines playing solo, in trio format and fronting his own orchestra. Bonus tracks include songs from 1944, recorded in tribute to his recently departed friend, Fats Waller. Definitive Records.

Includes 5 bonus tracks.