Earl Hines is often named the “Father of Modern Jazz Piano” and not without good reason. He was a piano pioneer, not only in excelling and exercising his mastery of harmony and rhythm in solos, but in establishing the piano as an important member of any jazz ensemble. The trumpet-style phrasing Hines formed a close creative unit with Louis Armstrong all the while being a band leader and extravagant reformer: Never afraid to go beyond known borders and challenge the listener’s ear.
The 7 CD plus one DVD box set features solo sessions from Hines’ early days in 1928 and up to 1974 in New York and Chicago, 1948 radio broadcasts from Blue Note in Chicago with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars, a series of 1954 through 1955 live recordings from the infamous Club Hangover in San Francisco, 1954 collaborations with the Muggsy Spanier All Stars, numerous 1959 recordings with the Earl Hines Quartet from London House in Chicago and on the DVD, a 1970 take of Earl Hines solo on piano and vocal.
In the detailed liner notes, Dan Morgenstern writes: “Hines endures, and this collection is a fine representation of his art and craft”.
CD1: Earl Hines solo piano
You can listen to a small part of all the songs from CD1 in the right side of this page.
CD2: Earl Hines Solo Piano + Louis Armstrong and his All Stars
- I've Got The World On A String
- Somewhere over the rainbow
- Between the Devil and the deep blue sea
- Come rain or come shine
- My shining hour
- As long as I live
- When it's sleepy time down south
- Muskrat ramble
- A song is born
- Basin Street blues
- St. Louis Blues
- High society
- Royal Garden blues
- I've got a right to sing the blues
CD3: Earl Hines/ Muggsy Spanier All Stars
- A Monday date
- Mood Indigo
- Wang-Wang blues
- Pops' Blues
- Apex Blues
- Caravan
- I ain't got nobody
- Mahogany Hall Stomp
- Savoy blues
- I've found a new baby
- Relaxin' at the Touro
- Medley: Bugle Call Rag/Ole Miss
- I'm coming Virginia
- It's right here for you
- When the saints go marching in
CD 4: Earl Hines Esquire All Stars featruing Dicky Wells
- Theme: Deep Forest
- Boogie Woogie on St. Louis Blues
- Tin Roof Blues
- Sleepwalking
- Rosetta
- Jump for Joy
- One O'Clock Jump
- Ballin' the Jack
- You're the cream in my coffee
- Love is just around the corner
- Hot soup
- The C jam blues
- Low down blues
- Jumpin' with Symphony Sid
- Piano man
- Theme: Deep forest
CD5: Earl Hines' Dixieland All Stars
- Theme: Deep forest
- Ballin' the jack
- Jazz me blues
- St. James Infirmary
- Lady be good
- Darktown Strutters Ball
- Some of these days
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- Boowgie woogie on St. Louis Blues
- On the sunny side of the street
- Back O'Town blues
- Theme: Deep forest
CD6: Earl Hines Quartet
- Theme: Deep Forest
- On the Alamo
- Tangerine
- Blues for Tatum
- Thou swell
- Willow weep for me
- Stompin' at the Savoy
- Theme: Deep Forest
- Do nothing 'till you hear from me
- Louise
- It all depends on you
- Stars fell on Alabama
- Little girl
- Someone to watch over me
- Get happy
CD7: Earl Hines Quartet
- Theme: Deep forest
- Thou swell
- Memphis blues
- Rosetta
- Can't we talk it over
- Mack the knife
- Tin roof blues
- Theme: Deep forest
- Give me the simple life
- You're getting to be a habit with me
- Basin Street Blues
- Liza
- Moonlight in Vermont
- Perdido
- The song is ended
DVD: Earl Hines piano solo & vocal
- I cover the waterfront
- Medley: Black and blue/ Two sleepy people/ Ain't Misbehavin'/ Squeeze me/ Honeysuckle Rose / Tea for two
Blues In Thirds
Off Time Blues
Chicago High Life
A Monday Date
Stowaway
Chimes In Blues
Panther Rag
Just Too Soon
Caution Blues
A Monday Date
I Ain’t Got Nobody
Fifty-Seven Varieties
Glad Rag Doll
Glad Rag Doll
Love Me Tonight
Love Me Tonight
Love Me Tonight
Down Among The Sheltering Palms
Down Among The Sheltering Palms
Rosetta
Rosetta
Body And Soul
Child Of A Disordered Brain
Child Of A Disordered Brain