Eubie Blake & Teddy Wilson & Claude Hopkins - Piano Masters (CD)

This is an essential acquisition for fans of solo jazz piano.The excerpts from this concert at the New School were a happy accident; the four pianists were hired to give engineering students a chance to practice recording live performances. Long out of print, this CD reissue adds MC John Hammond's insightful (if poorly recorded) introductions and a number of bonus tracks. Teddy Wilson's opening set is marvelous, though the producers overlooked that his performance of 'Body and Soul' is actually a medley which also includes 'Moonglow.' Claude Hopkins, who was not well-known as a solo pianist, nearly steals the show with his romps through 'Indiana' and 'Three Little Words.' Dill Jones, a Welsh pianist who was likely the least well-known musician heard during the concert, delivers an impressive take of 'Just Squeeze Me' and a show stopping rendition of 'Little Rock Getaway.' But then 89 years old, Eubie Blake takes top solo honors with his enthusiastic set, which now includes his first wo