Earl "Fatha" Hines didn't record for
Delmark extensively, although he did provide a few memorable albums for the Chicago-based
jazz/
blues label. One of them was
At the Party, which documents a May 13, 1970, concert in San Francisco. Not surprisingly, the album is excellent. Leading a sextet who includes, among others, vibist
Johnny Rae (who was heavily influenced by
Lionel Hampton), bassist
Larry Richardson, and guitarist
Jack Crowley,
Hines is in fine form during a
swing-oriented set that boasts inspired performances of
"Indiana," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "I Want a Little Girl," and other well-known standards. Equally memorable is a 12-minute medley that unites
"Chicago" with
Tony Bennett's signature tune
"I Left My Heart in San Francisco," which was an appropriate song to perform given where this concert took place.
Hines was 66 when
At the Party was recorded, and the influential pianist was continuing to play with as much stamina and vitality as ever; the
Earl "Fatha" Hines of 1970 doesn't sound any less enthusiastic than the
Earl "Fatha" Hines of the '20s, '30s, and '40s. His fingers and imagination were still serving him well in the early '70s, and thankfully,
Hines kept busy throughout that decade. But while
At the Party is excellent, it falls short of essential. Many of the albums that
Hines provided in the '70s are excellent, but excellent doesn't necessarily mean essential. Nonetheless,
Hines enthusiasts will find a great deal to admire about
At the Party, which
Delmark reissued on CD in 2001. ~ Alex Henderson
![Ellington at Newport [1999]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0886974920526_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Ellington at Newport [1999]")
