Memoirs of Willie "The Lion" Smith

Track Listings

Disc: 1
1. Relaxin'
2. Sand Dune
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
4. Shine
5. That Barbershop Chord-Red Head
6. Where's My Red, Red Rose
7. Blue Skies
8. Nagasaki
9. Runnin' Wild
10. Diga Diga Doo
See all 20 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2
1. Ain't Misbehavin'
2. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now
3. Sophisticated Lady
4. Solitude
5. Portrait Of The Duke-Satin Doll
6. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
7. The Sheik Of Araby
8. Keep Your Temper
9. Bring On The Band
10. The Old Stamping Ground
See all 14 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
And in this corner, at the upright pianola--that's right folks, the crusty, genial Havana-chomping octogenarian in the derby--we have Willie "The Lion" Smith, that rollicking stride-piano master, savvy showman, and raconteur par excellence. Smith will be your genial guide through the gin-joints and hell-pits of Depression-era Harlem, playing for you his "up-front 'n' poisonal" survey of the hits and hangouts of America's green jazz years, well-peppered with lively "foist-poison" stories and a scrapbook of memories. Smith is one of the inventors of jazz--a peer of Eubie Blake and mentor of Duke Ellington--and he scales the heights of piano wizardry. He awards high accolades in mimicking the wealth of styles of his day--hell, he knew them all and invented a few styles himself! James P. Johnson, Fats, Satchmo, Blake, Irving Berlin, and other Tin Pan Alley greats all receive vivid cameos in Smith's survey. Of course, Smith plays them his way, giving Johnson's "Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid" his own patented cascading waterfalls of tinkling arpeggios. The delightful chatter, patter, music lessons, philosophy, sepia tints of vaudeville players, hot rags, and sweet romancers will edify and amuse you. His name-dropping--Lena Horne's dad, Sammy Davis's dad and uncle--will open your eyes to the complex history and sociology of early showbiz. His Yiddish folk songs, snippets of Chopin and tango, tale of a "cutting" contest with Fats Waller, and a slaphappy, wacky "Nagasaki" will leave you rolling in the aisles. --Fred Bouchard

Memoirs of Willie "The Lion" Smith,Willie "The Lion" Smith,Koch Records,Classic Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Piano Blues,Pop,Stride

Jazz Music:

  1. Nest [Import]
  2. Open Air
  3. Passatori
  4. Plays Ellington
  5. Portrait of Silk Thread
  6. Quintet/Sextet Complete Recordings [Import]
  7. Rare Collection [Import]
  8. Re: Bill Evans
  9. Red Hot & Blue: Cole Porter Tribute [Gold CD]
  10. Rockin' in Rhythm

Jazz Music

jazz music

Jazz Music

70's Radio Hits, Vol. 6

Rejcha: Compositions for Flute and Fortepiano

Snooks Friedman & His Memphis Stompers

Children of the Night

Put the Needle on It [CD-single] [Import]

Romance Del Ayer Vol 1

Seven Worlds

Songs For Silverman (Special Package) [Explicit Lyrics]

Reconsidered

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies 1

Single Action

Sheets of Sound

Planetazero [Import]

A Luaka Bop: Roots, Rock and Rhythm

Etoile Spring Fantasy