Dick Hyman Plays Harold Arlen: Blues in the Night

• Artist: Dick Hyman
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1989 04 13+1989 04 14
• Total Time: 54:51
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

This CD is very much a piano recital, as Dick Hyman (on a set of unaccompanied solos) demonstrates his love for Harold Arlen's music. Nine of the fourteen selections that Hyman chose to record are very well-known, three are somewhat obscure and two are somewhere in between. The accent is on Art Tatum's style during some of the songs, along with a few snatches of Teddy Wilson's relaxed stride. Hyman reproduces the ease with which Tatum threw out impossible-to-play virtuosic runs, and (even more impressive) he hints constantly at Art's advanced harmonies without doing strict imitations. He gives a few of the songs unusual twists ("Stormy Weather" becomes a waltz, "Over the Rainbow" has a bossa nova rhythm, the last part of "A Woman's Prerogative" is played in two keys at once, etc.) but the melodies are never far away. Hyman also takes his first real vocal on record, doing a nice job on the lyrics of "In Your Own Quiet Way" with his obviously untrained voice. A fine outing. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
As Long as I Live	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Dick Hyman	(3:46)
Ill Wind	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Dick Hyman	(4:36)
Get Happy	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Dick Hyman	(2:40)
Right as the Rain	Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	Dick Hyman	(3:43)
Over the Rainbow	Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	Dick Hyman	(4:52)
I've Got the World on a String	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Dick Hyman	(3:20)
Blues in the Night	Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer	Dick Hyman	(4:37)
You Said It	Harold Arlen, Jack Yellen	Dick Hyman	(3:12)
Stormy Weather	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Dick Hyman	(4:25)
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Dick Hyman	(4:39)
In Your Own Quiet Way	Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	Dick Hyman	(2:24)
It's a Woman's Prerogative	Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer	Dick Hyman	(4:44)
A Sleepin' Bee	Harold Arlen, Truman Capote	Dick Hyman	(4:09)
It's Only a Paper Moon	Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Billy Rose	Dick Hyman	(3:44)

Credits

Dick Hyman (Piano), Dick Hyman (Main Performer), Paul Goodman (Engineer), E.Y. "Yip" Harburg (Lyricist), Johnny Mercer (Lyricist), Gregory K. Squires (Producer), Jack Yellen (Lyricist), Mort Goode (Liner Notes), Truman Capote (Lyricist), John Berg (Cover Design), B. Rose (Lyricist), Ted Koehler (Lyricist)