Willie "The Lion" Smith was one of the last remaining giants from the stride piano era when he made this studio recording for Decca in 1965. Although seven of the 15 tracks are
Smith's compositions, they are not his better known works, adding to the value of this release. One can hear how a performance like the driving "In a Minor Groove" could have influenced
Duke Ellington early in his career. There are also strong takes of oldies like "Ain't She Sweet" and "Some of These Days," along with an elaborate arrangement of
George Gershwin's "Summertime" that likely dazzled the composer if he had the opportunity to hear it during his many visits to Harlem.
Smith delves into the works of his comrades in stride, including
James P. Johnson's demanding and unjustly obscure "Steeplechase" and protégé
Fats Waller's well-known "Honeysuckle Rose." This CD reissue adds three previously unreleased tracks, among them a playful reworking of
Fryderyk Chopin's "Polonaise" and
Smith's own "All Out of Breath" and "Music on My Mind," both adding his friendly (if somewhat hoarse) vocals. Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden