Earl Hines And His Orchestra-Sweet Ella May, 1929

Back in the early 1970’s I fondly remember taking my father to the now defunct Chicken Deli in Toronto one evening to see the great Earl “Fatha” Hines play piano. Since then, I have long admired his styling, as he was known for his great technique and talent for improvisation, horn-like phrasing, and a rhythm which influenced popular jazz throughout the swing era and into bebop. One of my favorite Hines recordings is “Sweet Ella May” recorded on Victor in 1929, and we hear Hines providing the vocals and solos on the piano.