What's so good about Dick Hyman?

Over the past one hundred years, the style of jazz piano playing has changed immensely: ragtime, stride, swing, bebop, free jazz and more...and Dick Hyman can play them all.

In a review of Dick's recently released Century of Jazz Piano (a five-CD set on which the pianist performs in each of the major jazz piano styles from the past hundred years), Graham Flanagan on allaboutjazz.com says, "He has a brain that functions as a sort of comprehensive jazz encyclopedia. Along with that, he is a pianist with the skills to demonstrate perfectly almost every known technique and style." Add to this praise the fact that Dick plays solo for nearly the entire set and I'm certainly impressed...

Dick Hyman has come to be recognized as a master of the stride piano, but he is so much more. He is a widely respected pianist, comfortable in almost any style; he has composed, arranged and conducted works for film scores (including no less than ten Woody Allen films), orchestras, chamber ensembles and ballet companies. He was one of the first to experiment with the Moog synthesizer in the late 1960's, and he has played with some of the most important jazz musicians in history. Here's a clip of Dick playing with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie...not bad company indeed!

What impresses me perhaps most of all about Dick Hyman's playing is the fact that he is so often playing solo. As a soloist, it is Dick's responsibility - and his responsibility alone - to make sure his performance keeps in time; builds naturally; and stays interesting from beginning to end. He can't rely on anyone else for a time feel; or to inspire him to greater heights when soloing; or to play that last part of the melody. It's all up to him and he does it so well. Every clip that I watched when writing this entry was entertaining and interesting from beginning to end. Here's a sample (and I especially like how at about two minutes in the one couple in the background is practically straining to get a good look and Dick's hands in motion)...

Oh yeah - and did I mention that he's really good? Those fingers are flying!

P.S. - And, just for fun, here's the trailer for Purple Rose of Cairo - that's Dick Hyman's music in the background!