GENRE: Jazz
„The Art of the Piano“ presents twenty of the Jazz world’s greatest piano players with as many of their most influential albums. They range from the sophisticated elegance of Bill Evans or Duke Ellington (on one of his few albums as a soloist rather than a piano-playing bandleader) via the soulful approach of Ramsey Lewis or Ahmad Jamal or the deep Blues feeling of Red Garland or Tommy Flanagan, the Pre-Bop of Art Tatum and the Bebop-stylings of Bud Powell to the Hard-Bop of Horace Silver, the modernity of Herbie Hancock, or the Avantgarde approach of Cecil Taylor.
This expertly selected and remastered collection takes the listener on a journey through well over a decade of jazz evolution, which along the way also shows how interconnected the history of this music is and how one development leads to another. Just listen to the two very different versions of Bill Evans’ „Waltz for Debby“ on CD 1, the first by the composer himself, the latter by Oscar Peterson, a player who preceded and greatly influenced Evans and his generation. Hear Cecil Taylor’s „Bemsha Swing“ right after that song’s composer Thelonious Monk presents his unique musical (and pianistic) vision. These are just two of the many possible ways to explore and enjoy „The Art of the Piano“.
Tracklist:
CD 1
■ Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby
1. My Foolish Heart Washington, Young 4.58
2. Waltz For Debby Bill Evans 7.00
3. Detour Ahead Ellis, Frigo, Carter 7.37
4. My Romance Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 7.11
5. Some Other Time Green, Comden, Bernstein 5.00
6. Milestones Miles Davis 6.32
Bill Evans (p), Scott LaFaro (b), Paul Motian (dr)
Recorded live at The Village Vanguard, New York, June 25, 1961
■ Oscar Peterson - Affinity
7. Waltz For Debbie Bill Evans 5.56
8. Tangerine Mercer, Schertzinger 4.33
9. Gravy Waltz Brown 4.30
10. This Could Be The Start Of Something Allen 4.46
11. Baubles, Bangles And Beads Forrest, Wright 4.15
12. Six And Four Nelson 7.05
13. I'm A Fool To Want You Sinatra, Wolf, Herron 3.47
14. Yours Is My Heart Alone Lehar 5.40
Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b), Ed Thigpen (dr
Recorded in Chicago, Sept. 25 -27, 1962
Total Time 78.54
CD 2
■ Duke Ellington - The Duke Plays Ellington
1. In A Sentimental Mood Ellington, Mills, Curtz 2.31
2. Things Ain't What They Used To Be M. Ellington, Persons 2.57
3. Reflections In D Ellington 3.36
4. Who Knows? Ellington 2.38
5. Melancholia Ellington 3.22
6. All Too Soon Sigman, Ellington 3.07
7. Prelude To A Kiss Ellington, Gordon, Miles 3.03
8. B Sharp Blues Ellington 2.47
9. Passion Flower Billy Strayhorn 3.04
10. Janet Ellington 2.14
11. Retrospection Ellington 3.57
12. Dancers In Love Strayhorn, Ellington 1.56
Duke Ellington (p), Wendell Marshall (b), Butch Ballard (dr) Recorded in Hollywood, April 13and 14, 1953
■ Erroll Garner - Contrasts
13. You Are My Sunshine Charles Mitchell, Jimmie Davis 3.29
14. I've Got The World On A String Harold Arlen, Theodore "Ted" Koehler 4.02
15. 7-11 Jump Erroll Louis Garner 7.19
16. Part-Time Blues Erroll Garner 4.33
17. Rosalie Cole Porter 2.40
18. In A Mellow Tone Duke Ellington 4.19
19. Don't Worry 'Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler 5.04
20. (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings Henri Herpin 3.23
21. There's A Small Hotel Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers 3.10
22. Misty Erroll Garner 2.49
23. I've Got To Be A Rugcutter Duke Ellington 2.21
Erroll Garner (p), Wyatt Ruther (p), Eugene "Fats" Heard (dr), Candido Camero
Recorded at Universal Recording Studio, Chicago, IL, July 27, 1954
Total Time 78.47
CD 3
■ Bud Powell - Blues In The Closet
1. When I Fall in Love Victor Young, Edward Heyman 1.43
2. My Heart Stood Still Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 3.33
3. Blues in the Closet
(aka Collard Greens and Black Eyed Peas) Harry Babasin, Oscar Pettiford 3.03
4. Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home Pettiford 3.22
5. I Know That You Know Vincent Youmans, Anne Caldwell 2.26
6. Elegy (aka Elogie) Bud Powell 3.00
7. Woody 'n You Dizzy Gillespie 3.56
8. I Should Care Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston 3.42
9. Now's the Time Charlie Parker 4.36
10. I Didn't Know What Time It Was Rodgers, Hart 4.02
Bud Powell (p), Ray Brown (b), Osie Johnson (dr)
Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York, September 23, 1956
■ Kenny Drew Trio
11. Caravan Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol 4.49
12. Come Rain or Come Shine Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer 6.02
13. Ruby, My Dear Thelonious Monk 5.40
14. Weird-O Hank Mobley 4.00
15. Taking A Chance On Love Vernon Duke, John Latouche, Ted Fetter 4.37
16. When You Wish Upon a Star Leigh Harline, Ned Washington 5.13
17. Blues for Nica Kenny Drew 5.25
18. It's Only a Paper Moon Harold Arlen, E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, Billy Rose 6.23
Kenny Drew (p), Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (dr)
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York City, September 20 and 26, 1956
Total Time 75.52
CD 4
■ Ramsey Lewis - And His Gentlemen of Jazz
1. Delilah Victor Young 5.23
2. I Get a Kick Out of You Cole Porter 3.02
3. Please Send Me Someone to Love Percy Mayfield 4.04
4. Brother John Traditional 3.52
5. Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair Traditional 4.50
6. It Ain't Necessarily So George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin 2.48
7. Seven Valleys Fred Katz 5.26
8. On the Street Where You Live Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe 3.39
Ramsey Lewis (p), El Dee Young (b), Isaac Redd Holt (dr)
Recorded at Sheldon Recording Studios, Inc., 2120 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, in 1956
■ The Piano Style of Nat King Cole
9. Love Walked In George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin 3.26
10. My Heart Stood Still Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers 1.39
11. Imagination Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen 3.26
12. I Never Knew Ned Washington, Victor Young 2.32
13. Stella by Starlight Ned Washington, Victor Young 3.46
14. (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry? Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman 2.24
15. I Didn't Know What Time It Was Hart, Rodgers 3.08
16. Taking a Chance on Love Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John Latouche 2.03
17. April in Paris Duke, Yip Harburg 3.50
18. I Want to Be Happy Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans 1.24
19. I See Your Face Before Me Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz 2.32
20. Just One of Those Things Cole Porter 3.06
21. I Get a Kick out of You Porter 3.20
22. If I Could Be with You (One Hour Tonight) Henry Creamer, James P. Johnson 2.38
23. I Hear Music Burton Lane, Frank Loesser 3.03
24. Tea for Two Caesar, Youmans 2.30
Nat King Cole (p), orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle
Total Time 78.20
CD 5
■ Red Garland - All Kinds Of Weather
1. Rain Eugene Ford, Brian Alexander Morgan, Arthur Swanstrom 4.17
2. Summertime George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward 4.46
3. Stormy Weather Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler 10.38
4. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year Frank Loesser 5.46
5. Winter Wonderland Felix Bernard, Dick Smith 5.24
6. 'Tis Autumn Henry Nemo 9.11
Red Garland (p), Paul Chambers (b), Art Taylor (dr)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, November 27, 1958
■ Ahmad Jamal - Happy Moods
7. Little Old Lady Hoagy Carmichael, Stanley Adams 5.19
8. For All We Know J. Fred Coots, Sam M. Lewis 2.49
9. Pavanne Morton Gould 5.48
10. Excerpt from the Blues Ahmad Jamal 3.06
11. You'd Be So Easy to Love Cole Porter 3.22
12. Time on My Hands Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon, Vincent Youmans 1.39
13. Rain Check Billy Strayhorn 4.44
14. I'll Never Stop Loving You Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn 3.04
15. Speak Low Ogden Nash, Kurt Weill 4.57
16. Rhumba No. 2 Jamal 2.40
Ahmad Jamal (p), Israel Crosby (b), Vernel Fournier (dr)
Recorded at Ter-Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, January 20 and 21, 1960
Total Time 77.34
CD 6
■ Tommy Flanagan - Overseas
1. Relaxin' at Camarillo Charlie Parker 3.18
2. Chelsea Bridge Billy Strayhorn 3.47
3. Eclypso Tommy Flanagan 6.18
4. Beat's Up Tommy Flanagan 4.22
5. Skål Brothers Tommy Flanagan 2.33
6. Little Rock Tommy Flanagan 7.05
7. Verdandi Tommy Flanagan 2.14
8. Dalarna Tommy Flanagan 4.40
9. Willow Weep for Me Morton Gould 6.20
Tommy Flanagan (p), Wilbur Little (b), Elvin Jones (dr)
Recorded at Metronome Studio, Stockholm, Sweden, August 15, 1957
■ Herbie Hancock - Takin’ Off
10. Watermelon Man 7.14
11. Three Bags Full 5.31
12. Empty Pockets 6.12
13. The Maze 6.50
14. Driftin' 7.01
15. Alone and I 6.30
All compositions by Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock (p), Freddie Hubbard (tp), Dexter Gordon (ts), Butch Warren (b), Billy Higgins (dr)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, May 28, 1962
Total Time 79.58
CD 7
■ Art Tatum/ Lionel Hampton/ Buddy Rich
1. Perdido Juan Tizol 5.06
2. Hallelujah Vincent Youmans 4.53
3. I’ll Never Be The Same Frank Signorelli , Matty Malneck 6.39
4. How High The Moon Morgan Lewis 5.10
5. What Is This Thing Called Love Cole Porter 7.06
6. More Than You Know Vincent Youmans 4.17
7. Makin’ Whoopee Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson 7.04
Art Tatum (p), Lionel Hampton (vibes), Buddy Rich (dr)
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, August 1, 1955
■ Horace Silver Quintet - Horace-Scope
8. Strollin 5.00
9. Where You At? 5.40
10. Without You Don Newey 4.50
11. Horace-Scope 4.43
12. Yeah! 6.28
13. Me and My Baby 5.59
14. Nica's Dream 6.47
All compositions by Horace Silver except as indicated
Horace Silver (p), Blue Mitchell (tp), Junior Cook (ts), Gene Taylor (b), Roy Brooks (dr)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, July 8 and 9, 1960
Total Time 79.54
CD 8
■ Lennie Tristano
1. Line Up Tristano 3.34
2. Requiem Tristano 4.53
3. Turkish Mambo Tristano 3.41
4. East Thirty-Second Tristano 4.33
5. These Foolish Things Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey 5.46
6. You Go to My Head Haven Gillespie – Fred Coots 5.20
7. If I Had You Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Shapiro 6.29
8. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You
Bing Crosby, Ned Washington, Victor Young 6.07
9. All the Things You Are Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein 6.11
Lennie Tristano (p), Lee Konitz (as) (5-9), Peter Ind (b) (2,4), Gene Ramey (b) (5-9), Jeff Morton (dr) (2, 4), Art Taylor (dr) (5-9)
Recorded at Lennie TRistano’s appartmenet in New York in 1954 and 1955. Track 5-9 recorded Live at the Sing Song Room,
Confucius Restaurant, New York, June 11, 1955
■ The Jutta Hipp Quintet - New Faces, New Sounds
10. Cleopatra Joki Freund 3.22
11. Don't Worry 'bout Me Bloom, Koehler 3.06
12. Ghost Of A Chance Young 3.33
13. Mon Petit Jutta Hipp 3.26
14. What's New Haggart, Burke 4.46
15. Blue Skies Irving Berlin 2.59
16. Laura Johnny Mercer, Raskin 3.07
17. Variations Jutta Hipp 3.09
Jutta Hipp (p), Emil Mangelsdorff (as), Joki Freund (ts), Hans Kresse (b), Karl Sanner (dr)
Recorded in Frankfurt, Germany, April 24, 1954
Total Time 74.06
CD 9
■ Dave Brubeck Trio
1. You Stepped Out Of A Dream Kahn, Brown 2.56
2. Lullaby In Rhythm Goodman, Profit, Sampson, Hirsh 3.30
3. Singin' In The Rain Freed, Brown 2.36
4. I'll Remember April Raye, DePaul, Johnson 3.22
5. Body And Soul Heyman, Eyton, Green, Sour 3.44
6. Let's Fall In Love Harold Arlen, Koehler 2.43
7. Laura Johnny Mercer, Raskin 2.44
8. Indiana MacDonald, Hanley 2.35
9. Blue Moon Rodgers, Hart 2.57
10. Tea for Two Youmans, Caesar 2.45
11. Undecided Robin, Shavers 2.29
12. That Old Black Magic Harold Arlen 2.39
Dave Brubeck (p), Ron Crotty (b), Callen „Cal“ Tjader (dr, vibes) Recorded in 1950
■ Elmo Hope - Meditations
13. It's a Lovely Day Today Irving Berlin 3.39
14. All the Things You Are Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern 3.23
15. Quit It 4.24
16. Lucky Strike 2.53
17. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You
Bing Crosby, Ned Washington, Victor Young 4.55
18. Huh 3.47
19. Falling in Love with Love Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers 2.58
20. My Heart Stood Still Hart, Rodgers 3.22
21. Elmo's Fire 2.39
22. I'm in the Mood for Love Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh 4.25
23. Blue Mo 6.42
All compositions by Elmo Hope except as indicated Elmo Hope (p), John Ore (b), Willie Jones (dr)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, July 28, 1955
Total Time 78.15
CD 10
■ Thelonious Monk - Genius of Modern Music Vol 1
1. Round About Midnight 3.12
2. Off Minor 3.02
3. Ruby my Dear 3.08
4. I Mean You 2.45
5. Thelonious 3.21
6. Epistrophy 2.57
7. Well, You Needn't 3.01
8. Misterioso 3.06
All compositions by Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk (p), Idrees Sulieman (tp), Danny Quebec West (as), Billy Smith (ts), Gene Ramey (b), Art Blakey (dr)
Recorded in New York, October 15, 24 and November 21, 1947
■ Cecil Taylor - Jazz Advance
9. Bemsha Swing Denzil Best, Thelonious Monk 7.28
10. Charge 'Em Blues Cecil Taylor 11.07
11. Azure Duke Ellington, Irving Mills 7.30
12. Song Cecil Taylor 5.20
13. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To Cole Porter 9.18
14. Rick Kick Shaw Cecil Taylor 6.07
Cecil Taylor (p), Buell Neidlinger (b), Denis Charles (dr), Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone) (tracks 10-12)
Recorded in Boston on September 14, 1956
Total Time 71.29