Dick Hyman Plays Duke Ellington

Dick Hyman Plays Duke Ellington

ASIN: B000001597

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In his extraordinary career, Duke Ellington explored many musical forms, from the hot jazz tunes and exoticism of his early years to the grandeur of his later orchestral suites. Few Ellington tributes are able to bring a sense of that long and varied career as this one does, with both famous and little-known tunes included. Hyman reaches back to the '20s for the animated swing of "Jubilee Stomp" and "Doin' the Voom Voom," then forges ahead to the daring harmonies of "The Clothed Woman" and the serene majesty of "Come Sunday." He is able to bring a rare range of piano techniques to this project, from classic stride to the subtle voicings and impressionist shimmer that are heard in "On a Turquoise Cloud." --Stuart Broomer

Tracks:

Jubilee Stomp
Drop Me Off At Harlem
The Clothed Woman
Sophisticated Lady
Doin' The Voom Voom
On A Turquoise Cloud
All Too Soon
Tonk
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
Echoes Of Harlem
Prelude To A Kiss
The Gal From Joe's
Day Dream
Come Sunday

Amazon.com

In his extraordinary career, Duke Ellington explored many musical forms, from the hot jazz tunes and exoticism of his early years to the grandeur of his later orchestral suites. Few Ellington tributes are able to bring a sense of that long and varied career as this one does, with both famous and little-known tunes included. Hyman reaches back to the '20s for the animated swing of "Jubilee Stomp" and "Doin' the Voom Voom," then forges ahead to the daring harmonies of "The Clothed Woman" and the serene majesty of "Come Sunday." He is able to bring a rare range of piano techniques to this project, from classic stride to the subtle voicings and impressionist shimmer that are heard in "On a Turquoise Cloud." --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

One of my Desert Island Discs!!.......2003-10-23

Simply put, this is just a stellar CD, from beginning to end. There is not a track on here that disappoints. Every jazz pianist should listen to Hyman as he develops his thematic material, particularly on "Sophisticated Lady," "All Too Soon," "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," "Echoes of Harlem," and "Day Dream." If you want dazzling piano technique, then check out Hyman's dexterity on "Jubilee Stomp" and especially "Tonk." Ellington & Strayhorn used to perform "Tonk" as a duo, and Hyman does it here single-handed...absolutely marvelous.

I can't even begin to understand the technology that goes into the Bosendorger Reproducing Piano, but suffice it to say that the sound quality on this CD is as good as it gets.

I have had this CD for 10 years and never get tired of it. It just is one the best CDs I have ever come across. I can't believe so few people have written reviews for it; it is a true gem which deserves more attention.

Extraordinary Performance by an Extrarodinary Artist.......2001-12-30

In his seventh decade, virtuoso pianist/composer Dick Hyman is at the top of his - or anyone's - game musically and technically in this exceptional tribute to Duke Ellington. Hyman is that rare phenomenon - a complete, intelligent, and technically astounding musician - who serves the composer first but never forgets that among the composer's interests was to evoke an emotional response from his listeners.

This Hyman does, and how. If this were an LP, I would have already worn out "Tonk," originally written by Ellington and Strayhorn to feature themselves as duo-pianists at parties, and played here by Hyman live and ALONE. Then again, there's the wonderful quasi-medley of "Echos of Harlem" and "Prelude To A Kiss," where Hyman cleverly interweaves the distinctive driving motive from the first tune into the second. And there are definitive performances of "Sophisticated Lady," "Drop Me Off in Harlem," "I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart" - it's all wonderful.

Finally, the recorded sound is absolutely superb. The performances were preserved on a recording Boesendorfer piano, and then played back in an acoustically ideal recording environment. The end result is the spontaneity of a live performance with the sonics of an Uber-Studio.

Whether you're a musician or sometime listener, an Ellington fanatic or jazz novice, you will not go wrong with this recording. Buy it and enjoy it.

Exellent tribute to the real king of jazz..........2000-10-13

If Paul Whiteman was really the king of jazz, who was Duke Ellington? Well here Dick Hyman(the Fats Waller of today) gives a tribute to the real king of jazz Duke Ellington, Hyman's tribute album shows just how much Hyman loves and respects ellington's music, without copying his style. This is a landmark album, on the same level as Hyman's exellent tribute to Fats Waller. Hyman covers here on this joyous CD such classics as Daydream and Prelide To A Kiss to lesser known gems like Echoes From Harlem & On A Turquoise Cloud. This CD is highly recomended to both Ellington & Hyman fans. Duke would be honored if he were alive to hear this.

Average customer rating:

Dick Hyman Plays Duke Ellington
Dick Hyman
Manufacturer: Reference Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Stride Piano | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Instrumental Pop & Lounge | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000006M9F
Release Date: 1993-12-17

Tracks:

Jubilee Stomp
Drop Me Off At Harlem
The Clothed Woman
Sophisticated Lady
Doin' The Voom Voom
On A Turquoise Cloud
All Too Soon
Tonk
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
Echoes Of Harlem
Prelude To A Kiss
The Gal From Joe's
Day Dream
Come Sunday

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music