ProJazz.net

“This initial installment in the historical chronology of recordings released under the name of Earl Hines contains no less than 13 finely rendered piano solos. Hines the pianist is caught in the act of tapping into everything that was in the air at the time: ragtime, blues, catchy airs and shout-style stride — everything a bright young man would have picked up between Pittsburgh and Chicago, with Kansas City, New Orleans and New York coming up through the floorboards. Hines experimented unflinchingly with rhythmic variation, and was by far the most adventurous improviser in all of jazz piano before the rise of Art Tatum. “Caution Blues” is the venerable “Blues in Thirds” taken at a brisk clip. The ensemble sides, which were the very first to appear under Hines’ own name, have elements in common with what was being recorded in 1929 by Louis Armstrong, Luis Russell, the nine- and eleven-piece editions of Fats Waller & His Buddies, and many other fine bands of the day. There are two rather insipid vocals by trombonist William Franklin, a fine dose of hefty scat singing from tuba-toting arranger Hayes Alvis, and three decidedly hip examples of Hines as hot and low-down vocalist. He scats with abandon during a smoky rendition of “Everybody Loves My Baby,” talks like Don Redman on “Have You Ever Felt That Way?” and chortles wordlessly on “Sister Kate” after the manner of Louis Armstrong. Finishing off the disc with a taste of 1932, “Deep Forest,” soon to be established as the Hines theme song, is a sort of piano concerto in miniature. Here is the perfect prologue to what this striking individual went on to accomplish over the next half-century.” – arwulf arwulf/AllMusic.

Track listing:

1 Earl Hines– Blue In Thirds (Caution Blues) 2:51
2 Earl Hines– Off Time Blues 2:55
3 Earl Hines– Chicago High Life 2:50
4 Earl Hines– A Monday Date 2:53
5 Earl Hines– Stowaway 2:50
6 Earl Hines– Chimes In Blues 2:52
7 Earl Hines– Panther Rag 2:52
8 Earl Hines– Just Too Soon 3:11
9 Earl Hines– Caution Blues 2:50
10 Earl Hines– A Monday Date 3:08
11 Earl Hines– I Ain’t Got Nobody
Written-By – Graham, Williams
3:05
12 Earl Hines– Fifty-Seven Varieties 3:07
13 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Sweet Ella May
Vocals – William Franklin (2)
Written-By – Robinson, Renard, Alpert
2:42
14 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Everybody Loves My Baby
Vocals – Earl Hines
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
3:14
15 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Good Little, Bad Little You
Vocals – William Franklin (2)
Written-By – Green, Stept
2:33
16 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Good Little, Bad Little You
Vocals – Hayes Alvis
Written-By – Green, Stept
2:34
17 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Have You Ever Felt That Way ?
Vocals – Earl Hines
Written-By – Castleton, Williams
3:01
18 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Beau-Koo Jack
Arranged By – Hayes Alvis
Written-By – Hill, Armstrong, Melrose
2:47
19 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Sister Kate
Vocals – Earl Hines
Written-By – Piron
3:05
20 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Chicago Rhythm
Written-By – Kanter, Grossman
2:49
21 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Glad Rag Doll
Written-By – Dougherty, Yellen, Ager
2:56
22 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Grand Piano Blues 2:55
23 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Blue Nights
Arranged By – Hayes Alvis
Written-By – Alvis
3:08
24 Earl Hines And His Orchestra– Deep Forest
Bass, Tuba – Quinn Wilson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Omer Simeon
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Violin – Darnell Howard
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Irwin
Drums – Wallace Bishop
Guitar – Lawrence Dixon
Trombone – Louis Taylor (3), William Franklin (2)
Trumpet – Charlie Allen (3), George Dixon, Walter Fuller

Personnel:

Banjo, Guitar – Claude Roberts (tracks: 13 to 23)
Bass – Hayes Alvis (tracks: 13 to 23)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Toby Turner (tracks: 13 to 23)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Lester Boone (tracks: 13 to 23)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Irwin (tracks: 13 to 23)
Cornet – George Mitchell (3) (tracks: 13 to 23), Shirley Clay (tracks: 13 to 23)
Drums – Benny Washington (tracks: 13 to 23)
Leader – Earl Hines (tracks: 13 to 24)
Liner Notes – Anatol Schenker
Piano – Earl Hines
Trombone – William Franklin (2) (tracks: 13 to 23)
Written-By – Hines (tracks: 1 to 10, 12, 22, 24)

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Complete Jazz Series, 2009