This compilation is culled from three albums produced by John Hammond in the '60s. The collection is rather interesting as a comparison of the styles of these three fine traditional jazz pianists. Henderson's unaccompanied pieces are a direct line from the stride playing of Fats Waller, while
Sir Charles Thompson's playing is more akin to
Duke Ellington's playful style, and he gets great support from
Jo Jones on drums,
Freddie Green on guitar, and Walter Page on bass.
Ray Bryant himself seems poised somewhere between the two, with equal doses of ragtime and bop. It's a feast of fine keyboard work throughout. ~ Tim Sheridan