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Willie "The Lion" Smith Lion: Live Release Date: 2004 Label: Storyville Willie "The Lion" Smith was one of the big three of the stride pianists of the 1920s along with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. He survived much longer than Johnson and Waller and was still a colorful figure into the late '60s. This double CD preserves virtually an entire concert from 1949, one featuring Smith as a soloist and with a trio. The recording quality is just OK, the talking between songs is only worth hearing once, and Smith makes the mistake of singing on a few occasions. However, his piano playing is excellent, with such songs as "I've Found a New Baby," "Echoes of Spring," Chopin's Polonaise, "Honeysuckle Rose," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," and "Tea for Two" being among the high points. The overall results fall short of being essential, but fans of both stride pianists and Smith's own impressionistic style will enjoy this formerly rare material. Scott Yanow, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 I've Found a New Baby Williams 6:23 2 Echoes of Spring Smith 3:57 3 Falling Stars Steinke, Smith 4:46 4 Polonaise Chopin 5:10 5 Swinging With Bisop Ad Lib. 5:11 6 I Got Rhythm Gershwin 3:59 7 Fats Waller Medley: Keepin' Out of Mischief Now/I've Got a Feeling I'm Waller, Razaf, Marion 7:36 8 Nagasaki Dubin, Warren 5:37 9 St. Louis Blues Handy 9:51 10 Honeysuckle Rose Waller, Razaf 5:52 11 12th Street Rag Bowman, Razaf 5:40 12 Royal Garden Blues Williams, Williams 5:03 13 I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate Armstrong, Williams 4:41 14 Baby Won't You Please Come Home Williams 5:06 15 Ol' Man River Kern, Hammerstein 5:21 16 Basin Street Blues Williams 5:05 17 Morning Air Smith 5:12 18 Tea for Two Youmans 4:33 19 Sweet Georgia Brown Pinkard 6:12 Releases: Year Type Label 2004 CD Storyville

Member Of: Lion's Band Willie "The Lion" Smith Quartet More >> Similar Artists: Luckey Roberts Meade "Lux" Lewis Pete Johnson Henry Townsend Little Brother Montgomery More >>

Influenced By: James P. Johnson Eubie Blake Jelly Roll Morton Scott Joplin More >> Followers: Fats Waller Barbara Sutton Curtis Brother Joe May Clara Ward Dorothy Love Coates More >>

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