Smith, Willie "The Lion" & Don Ewell / Stride Piano Duets
Album: Stride Piano Duets   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Smith, Willie "The Lion" & Don Ewell   Added:Jul 2008
Label:Delmark Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2008-07-20 Pull Date: 2008-09-21 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Sep 21 Aug 31 Aug 10 Aug 3 Jul 27
Airplays: 1 1 1 1 4

Recent Airplay
1. Sep 28, 2018: Traditions
I Found A New Baby, Relaxin'
4. Aug 08, 2008: No Cover, No Minimum
Relaxin'
2. Sep 19, 2008: Memory Select, early edition
Here Comes The Band
5. Aug 01, 2008: No Cover, No Minimum
You're Driving Me Crazy
3. Aug 29, 2008: No Cover, No Minimum
I Found A New Baby
6. Jul 25, 2008: Oatmeal
I Found A New Baby

Album Review
Decca
Reviewed 2008-07-19
In the 1920’s Mr. “The Lion” Smith was ranked up there with Fats Waller (and his eyebrows) as a stride piano king. He was playing up until the early ‘70s so he was a link between the glory days of early jazz and the next generations of musicians. This is great stuff, glorious, fun, liquidly cool duets (track 7 is the only exception, it’s just Smith).

1. Jumpin’ midtempo swing w/nice flair & some talking, la-la-ing.
2. Midtempo, bright and tripping version of a Berlin classic.
*3. Starts mid, picks way up into a fast, fabulous tour-de-force. So good!
4. Starts slowish, gets mid, nice interplay and great keywork.
*5. Everybody Charleston! Nicely retro classic.
*6. Bright & bouncy with a warm charm.
*7. Smith goes solo – upbeat, tripping, entirely captivating.
8. Nicely tinny homage w/great technique. Midtempo.
9. Relaxed and fluid w/a touch of drama & emotion.
*10. An upbeat jump that showcases how well they play together.
11. Like an old Vaudeville love song. Sweet, relaxed, old-fashioned.
12. Mid/upbeat jump w/some fast fingerwork & lots of style.
13. Lazily warm w/some perkier bits near end.
*14. Solid rag w/lots of tripping interplay. Fun & catchy.


Track Listing
1. Relaxin'   8. Sweet Georgia Brown
2. Blue Skies   9. Georgia On My Mind
3. I Found A New Baby   10. Linger Awhile/Shine
4. Tea For Two   11. If I Could Be With You
5. Charleston   12. Just You, Just Me
6. You're Driving Me Crazy   13. Squeeze Me
7. Here Comes The Band   14. Twelfth Street Rag