Piano Moods: Teddy Wilson

The Benny Goodman Quartet circa 1938, jazz's first publically integrated group (originally a trio). The happy foursome is, from left, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson and the Ray, Goodman himself. Photo by unknown, from Metronome magazine

This was Teddy Wilson's first recording session under his own name in three years. In the early '40s, Teddy had recorded extensively for the Musicraft label, but with the emergence of bebop his elegant swing improvisations were less in demand. His date for Columbia comprised one of the company's first extended-play "Piano Moods" sessions, and it featured a quick succession of familiar tunes rendered in Wilson's impeccable style. Teddy reportedly only listened to classical music in his off hours and it certainly shows here. The recording makes an interesting compliment to the Earl Hines "Piano Moods" record further down this page. Wilson rounds edges and straightens the way where Hines prefers to keep the listeners guessing (though less so on "Moods" than on other recordings).

You'll note that the folks at Columbia made a hash of the sidemen's names and instruments, but I've corrected them here. I've forgotten where I picked this LP up, but it is in excellent shape for a record two years shy of retirement age.

As always, the music in this posting was ripped from the original vinyl with no enhancement other than a mild cleaning up of minor clicks and pops.

Teddy Wilson, piano

1-7:

Arvell Shaw, bass
J.C. Heard, drums

New York, NY; June 29, 1950

8-11:
Al McKibbon, bass
Kansas Fields, drums

New York, NY; August 25, 1950
Columbia CL 6153 (10" extended play record) 

1. Just One of Those Things

2. Just Like a Butterfly

3. Runnin' Wild

4. I've Got the World on a String

5. Fine and Dandy

6. Ghost of a Chance

7. Honeysuckle Rose

8. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

9. Bess, You Is My Woman Now

10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love

11. After You've Gone

Find it here: https://www.mediafire.com/?gjbr5jj08qq7zrj

Piano Moods: Earl Hines

Earl Hines and stogie perform in a New York City club in 1952. Photo by Tom James

Here's Earl Hines after he'd abandoned the big band and had quit Louis Armstrong's first all-star group. He was working mostly in trio and quartet settings at the time and, judging by trade magazines from the period, was keeping a pretty low profile.

Columbia Records was experimenting with long-playing 33 1/3-rpm records, and decided to issue a series of "extended play" albums – 10-inch discs – featuring pianists. Hines was one of them. What was unusual about these records was that there were no pauses or separations between tunes – each side of the EP was one continuous performance.

In keeping with the marketing angle, the performances on these albums are unchallenging and fairly perfunctory. But there are stellar moments, and Earl Hines demonstrates his great skill on "I Hadn't Anyone But You" and breaks into some surprising Latin rhythms on "Diane."

This album is a thrift shop find, one of several interesting records discovered among hundreds crammed into a shopping cart doing duty as a record rack. It was hell to look through but well worth the effort, as it turned out.

As always, the music in this posting was ripped from the original vinyl with no enhancement other than a mild cleaning up of minor clicks and pops.

Earl Hines, piano

Al McKibbon, bass
J.C. Heard, drums
New York, NY; July 17, 1950
Columbia CL 6171 (7" extended play record) 

1. Rosetta
2. When I Dream of You
3. You Can Depend on Me
4. Diane
5. Velvet Moon
6. I Hadn't Anyone But You
7. These Foolish Things
8. Deed I Do

Find it here: http://www.mediafire.com/download/miuc7z37a48h2m4/Earl_Hines.rar