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JazzWords > Earl Hines
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Earl "Father" Hines, born in Pittsburgh, PA, was an original, and the first pianist to fashion Louis Armstrong-
like solos on the piano. While technically brilliant, he was not restrained by either the syncopation
of ragtime nor the structured bass patterns of stride. He very well could have been a disciple of
stride pianists James P. Johnson or Willie "The Lion" Smith, but instead he blazed a trail that owed a greater
debt to Armstrong and other early horn soloists. Hines first recorded with Armstrong in 1927, and in
1928 recorded a number of timeless tracks with Louis. His recordings with Armstrong, especially West End
Blues and Weather Bird, are, without a doubt, the most adverturesome jazz performances up to that time.
Hines also led an underrated big band during the 1930s and 1940s. The 1943 version included Dizzy Gillespie,
Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstine. This group became the nucleus of Eskstine's big band
that served as a bebop incubator.
An exceptional recording of Hines from his last decade is a solo effort recorded "live" at the New School
for Social Research in New York City in 1973. This effort finds Hines in rare form, with ample time
and a torrent of ideas.
Producer Hank O'Neal notes that Hines was flawless in his execution at each of their recording sessions.
Earl Hines is certainly underappreciated since his death and remains an intriguing piano
soloist with the phrasing of a horn player and the finesse of only a handful of his contemporaries.
Hines had an impeccable ear and prodigious talent to match.
©1998 Dave Leonnig
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