This
Eubie Blake CD is a difficult one to rate. The music (a dozen piano solos) finds the 90-year-old pianist in prime form but the packaging frankly stinks. Not only are there no recording dates given (these selections are probably taken from a few previously released sessions) and a complete lack of liner notes, but the back cover of the CD lists six selections apiece on side one and side two, and the order is reversed. In other words, cuts seven through twelve are actually one through six and vice versa. If one can overlook those flaws, the music is actually quite wonderful.
Blake sounds very much at the peak of his powers not only during such familiar pieces as "Charleston Rag," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "You're Lucky to Me" (during which he takes a vocal) and "Memories of You" but eight of his lesser-known rags and songs. In fact, if the packaging were decent, this would rank (along with his classic two-LP set 86 Years of Eubie Blake) as the ancient ragtime pianist's definitive release. ~ Scott Yanow