Thinking About Bix

by Dick Hyman

Overview

Long an admirer of cornetist/composer Bix Beiderbecke, Dick Hyman pays tribute to the gifted but short-lived jazz legend by interpreting the songs Bix recorded in a series of piano solos, mixing transcriptions of Beiderbecke's solos (and occasionally, others' as well) with his own improvisations. One exception is Hyman's original composition "Thinking About Bix," a warm, easygoing piece that captures the spirit of the era. The pianist's buoyant setting of "Singin' the Blues" and playful rendition of "Ostrich Walk" prove captivating, while his jaunty interpretation of "'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So" is lots of fun. But the obvious high points of this CD, recorded not long before Hyman's 81st birthday, are Beiderbecke's rarely performed works for solo piano. The shimmering impressionist air of "Candlelights," the subtlety of "In the Dark," the Gershwin-flavored "In a Mist," the constantly shifting "Flashes," and the loping treatment of "Davenport Blues" all glisten in Hyman's gifted hands. Stride pianist Mike Lipskin (a protege of stride pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith) joins Hyman in a lively duo rendition of "You Took Advantage of Me." ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	08/12/2008
Label:	Reference Recordings
UPC:	0030911111625
Rank:	146172

Tracks

1. Thinking About Bix
2. Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home)
3. Ostrich Walk
4. I'm Coming, Virginia
5. Jazz Me Blues
6. Candlelights
7. 'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So
8. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down
9. In the Dark
10. Clementine (From New Orleans)
11. Lonely Melody
12. In a Mist
13. Sweet Sue (Just You)
14. Wringin' and Twistin'
15. Flashes
16. Davenport Blues
17. You Took Advantage of Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dick Hyman   Primary Artist,Piano,Soloist
Mike Lipskin   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Piano,Piano

Technical Credits

Eddie Edwards   Composer
Fats Waller   Composer
Frankie Trumbauer   Composer
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Dick Hyman   Composer,Producer,Music Notes
Howdy Quicksell   Composer
Sam M. Lewis   Composer
Sam Coslow   Composer
Ray Lodwig   Composer
Hal Dyson   Composer
Henry Creamer   Composer
Will J. Harris   Composer
Willard Robison   Composer
J. Tamblyn Henderson, Jr.   Design,Editing,Producer,Mastering,Executive Producer
Con Conrad   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Victor Young   Composer
Harry Warren   Composer
Will Marion Cook   Composer
Keith O. Johnson   Engineer
Bix Beiderbecke   Composer
William Roarty   Design
Paul Stubblebine   Editing,Mastering