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Dick Hyman, famous pianist, organist, arranger, and general jazz notable, is here presented in one of his earliest recordings. Hyman went on to play with Benny Goodman, Ruby Braff, Ralph Sutton, Marian McPartland, Doc Severinsen, Roy Eldridge, and many others.
This album provides a very personal, warm look at Hyman's playing, showcasing the artist and the wonderful music of Vernon Duke. Listen to the creative and intelligent approach he takes to these songs, and enjoy a wonderful album from a jazz giant's early days.
In 1952, a 25-year old Dick Hyman recorded an album of the songs of Kurt Weill, Noel Coward and Vernon Duke. While the choices of Weill and Coward were a bit offbeat, a solo piano set of Vernon Duke numbers was logical since many of the composer's songs were on their way to becoming jazz standards.
Vernon Duke (1903-69) may not have achieved the permanent fame of Gershwin, Porter, Arlen, Berlin or Rodgers but he was on their level. Born as Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dukelsky in Russia, he studied at the Kiev Conservatory when he was 11. In 1919 his family became refugees due to the Russian civil war. In 1921 they settled in New York. The following year, George Gershwin became a friend and suggested that he simplify his name. While he continued writing classical music under his original name, he was Vernon Duke when he wrote popular music.
In 1924 Duke wrote a ballet in Paris where he had some of his classical works performed. During the same period, he spent time in London writing numbers for musical comedies. Back in the U.S. after 1929, the next decade found Duke writing many hit songs including “April In Paris,” “Autumn In New York,” “What Is There To Say” and “I Can't Get Started.”.His writing for the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin In The Sky was a big success, resulting in several major songs including “Taking A Chance On Love.” In later years Vernon Duke continued writing both classical music and for Broadway shows.
Since Duke's career peaked in the 1940s, when Dick Hyman explored his songs in 1952, it was the perfect time for a retrospective. Hyman throughout his career has displayed the ability to play in any jazz style and to interpret a remarkable range of music. On this tribute set, Hyman's playing could be considered modern swing with touches of stride and a lot of melodic improvising.
Review
"In addition to the hits already mentioned, Dick Hyman explores such numbers as “London In July,” “I Am Only Human After All” and “The Love I Long For.” His tasteful playing and his ability to bring out the beauty in every song must have pleased the composer, for this set is a definitive tribute to the popular music side of Vernon Duke." -Scott Yanow
"In 1952, long before songbooks became common in jazz, pianist Dick Hyman recorded full albums of the music of Kurt Weill, Noel Coward and Vernon Duke. The Duke project was particularly logical for many of his songs were already jazz standards. Hyman digs into such famous songs as "April In Paris," "Autumn In New York," and "I Can't Get Started," in addition to such worthy but forgotten tunes as "London in July" and "The Love I Long For." Autumn In New York should be of great interest to both Dick Hyman fans and those who love the music of Vernon Duke." -Scott Yanow
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