Dick Hyman - Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol.3 (1990)

Dick Hyman is such a versatile pianist that his own style has often been overshadowed by his interpretations of other pianists' work. Music of 1937, which features 11 diverse songs premiered in that year, finds Hyman at times hinting at Oscar Peterson (especially on "Where or When"), the stride piano masters, classical music, and even the basslines of Dave McKenna, but mostly he plays in his own virtuosic yet very melodic and accessible style. "Loch Lomond" pays tribute to Benny Goodman's rendition, "Thanks for the Memory" is based a bit on Bob Hope's original recording, and Art Tatum would have been proud to have cut this version of "In the Still of the Night." The wide range of emotions (from an exuberant "Bob White" to a somber "The Folks Who Live on the Hill") and Hyman's typically brilliant playing on the solo recital make this CD a particular standout.


Tracks:

01. Spoken Introduction - 0:16
02. Where or When (Rodgers-Hart) - 4:06
03. A Foggy Day (In London Town) (Gershwin-Gershwin) - 6:12
04. Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight) (Hanighen-Mercer) - 4:31
05. Someday My Prince Will Come (Churchill-Morey) - 7:00
06. The Folks Who Live on the Hill (Kern-Hammerstein) - 6:06
07. Bei Mir Bist du Schon (Cahn-Chaplin-Jacobs-Secunda) - 5:24
08. Loch Lomond (Trad.) - 2:54
09. Thanks for the Memory (Rainger-Robin) - 3:36
10. In the Still of the Night (Porter) - 5:12
11. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart) - 4:40
12. Caravan (Ellington-Tizol-Mills) - 5:26

Personnel:

Dick Hyman - piano
Recorded live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Berkeley, CA on February 14, 1990.