Four Jazz Giants

• Artist: Earl Hines
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1971
• Genre: Jazz

Review

During a two-day period in 1971, pianist Earl Hines recorded three albums of unaccompanied solo piano for Audiophile, tributes to W.C. Handy (Comes in Handy), Hoagy Carmichael (Hines Does Hoagy) and Louis Armstrong (My Tribute to Louis) who had passed away two weeks earlier. 67 at the time, Hines was as adventurous as always and very much in prime form during the inspired sessions. All of the music was reissued in 1997 on this two-CD set by George Buck's Solo Art label. The performances are consistently inventive, with the highlights including a ten-minute version of "Stardust," "Ole Buttermilk Sky," "Struttin' with Some Barbecue," "Someday You'll Be Sorry," "St. Louis Blues," "Ole Miss," "Beale Street Blues," and the touching "For the Past Masters." A gem. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Similar Albums

Spontaneous Explorations, Grand Reunion, Fletcher Henderson's Sextet (1950), Great Jazz Pianists [Melodie], Ellington at Newport, Blues in Thirds, 1949-52 Studio Performances, Sing Along with Basie, Tour de Force Encore, '65 Piano Solo