Search - Hyman, Dick :: Dick Hyman: An Evening At The Cookery

Outstanding Piano

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 07/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful CD - 77 minutes of previously unreleased live solo piano from the great Dick Hyman, recorded at the Cookery in Greenwich Village in 1973.Musically Hyman is on top form, demonstrating a mastery of jazz piano across a number of styles. The CD offers a typically wide-ranging programme - from stride classics ("Harlem Strut", "Valentine Stomp"), through standards (many given lengthy explorations), and originals, to the more bizarre (The Sound of Music's "My Favourite Things" and Disney's "Zip-A Dee Doo Da"). Particular highlights include a magnificent "There Will Never Be Another You", a beautiful "Willow Weep for Me"Despite being recorded privately by Hyman on an ordinary cassette recorder, the sound quality is fine (JRB have done a great job in re-mastering the tape), with a minimum of background noise from diners. The piano is a little out of tune, but is no worse than many.Strongly recommended - let's hope that Hyman and JRB plan more releases like this one."