A major if underrated stride pianist,
Don Ewell was inspired by
Jelly Roll Morton and
Earl Hines, but could stride like
Fats Waller, too. He started leading his own trios in Baltimore in the mid-'30s; played during the New Orleans jazz revival (starting in the mid-'40s) with
Bunk Johnson,
Muggsy Spanier,
Sidney Bechet, and
Kid Ory (1953); and was with
Jack Teagarden during 1957-1964.
Ewell sometimes played duets with the weakening Willie "the Lion" Smith in the late '60s before moving to New Orleans, where he worked regularly during his last years. He recorded for Good Time Jazz (three 1956-1957 dates are available on CD), GHB/Audiophile/Jazzology, Delmark, Fat Cat's Jazz, and Chiaroscuro; previously unreleased sets were issued posthumously by Stomp Off and Pumpkin. ~ Scott Yanow