Earlier this week, Dick Hyman played a noontime recital at a church in Manhattan. Fellow artsjournal blogger Jan Herman was there with his camera and posted videos of Hyman playing Fats Waller’s “My Fate Is In Your Hands” and “Bach Up To Me.” To see Jan’s piece and hear Hyman, go here.
When you come back, if you want more Waller — and, of course, you will — click on these links to hear Fats play:
“My Fate Is In Your Hands,
” Valentine Stomp” (take one)
and
“Valentine Stomp” (take two), all from 1929.
There. Now, don’t you feel better?
Weekend Extra: Hyman and Waller
February 21, 2009 by
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
Any Fats Waller song — any at all, even if he’s not singing or mugging — is good for what ails you. My all-time favorite pianist. Especially the solo piano pieces. And I don’t care how corny that choice may seem.
Seeing Dick Hyman in that setting reminds me of a somewhat similar occasion when my wife and I were visiting New York and went along to a recital for ‘senior citizens’ by Dick Hyman at a Jewish Community Centre. It was delightful – and more especially because Dick’s audience were enjoying it so much although many were unfamiliar with both Dick and the music.
As we were leaving we overheard one senior saying to friends – ‘He is amazing – I wonder – does he do windows?’
I told Dick the story some years later and he said ‘I remember that afternoon and had no idea that even one person in the audience was a jazz fan’.
I’ll bet many were subsequently …..
(We had spotted it in a Village Voice listing of ‘music under $2.50′)
Economy, what economy? I feel better already!