
I’m pleased to announce the complete, re-edited release of “A Brief History Of Jazz Piano,” with author/jazz historian Doug Ramsey, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Jazz Journalists Association. Preceded by Doug’s informative historical remarks, I play music by pianists who were influential and inspirational in my development.
This is a FREE digital download, which can be heard online or downloaded to your computer. Click HERE for the Dropbox link.
A Brief History of Jazz Piano: Bill Mays, piano—Doug Ramsey, narration
The Seasons Performance Hall, Yakima, Washington—October 10, 2015
Steinway “D” Concert Grand Piano—Ben Johnson, engineer
Bill Mays and Doug Ramsey present a varied, eclectic program of important jazz pianists from the early 1900s to the present. Bill says, “Attempting to cover 100 years of jazz piano history in one evening is impossible. The obvious problem was who to include, who to leave out, while representing several contrasting eras and piano styles. In this ‘brief history,’ I play music by several pianists who influenced me early in my career, as well as others who I feel were important contributors to the music.” Doug says, “Working with Bill on this presentation was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. I had the best seat in the house, in the curve of the Steinway, and we had a great audience of true listeners.”
This live recording is from an October, 2015, concert at The Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima, Washington. It was done in two sets of slightly more than 60 minutes each. They presented the concert again in the summer of 2016 at the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival. Doug makes brief comments before Bill’s version of each tune. For the most part, the pieces were composed or made famous by the pianists. They are not presented in chronological order. All compositions are by the pianists listed below, except where noted.
1st half:
Earl “Fatha” Hines, Rosetta
Bill Evans, Only Child
Art Tatum, Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell)
Bud Powell, Hallucinations
Jimmy Rowles, Looking Back
Jelly Roll Morton, Grandpa’s Spells
Marian McPartland, Twilight World
Keith Jarrett, Margot
George Shearing, Conception
Teddy Wilson, Sweet Lorraine (Cliff Burwell)
Nat Cole, I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm
Herbie Hancock, Dolphin Dance
Chick Corea, Children’s Song #6
Clare Fischer, Pensativa
2nd half:
Lennie Tristano, Lennies Pennies
Duke Ellington, Black Beauty
Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Mood
Cecil Taylor, Luyah
Mary Lou Williams, Baby Bear Blues
Ray Bryant, Cubano Chant
Russ Freeman, Summer Sketch
Tommy Flanagan, Freight Trane
Dave Brubeck, In Your Own Sweet Way
Horace Silver, Peace
Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’
Fats Waller, Jitterbug Waltz
James P. Johnson, Carolina Shout
Encore: Goodbye, Mr. Evans (Phil Woods)

