Lullaby of Birdland - Dick Wellstood, Shearing, George
How About You? - Dick Wellstood, Freed, Ralph
If Dreams Come True - Dick Wellstood, Goodman, Benny
St. James Infirmary - Dick Wellstood, Primrose, Joe
Birmingham Breakdown - Dick Wellstood, Ellington, Duke
Ain't Misbehavin' - Dick Wellstood, Brooks, Harry
Snowy Morning Blues/Carolina Shout [Medley] - Dick Wellstood, Johnson, James [01]
There Is No Greater Love - Dick Wellstood, Jones, Isham
Fidgety Feet - Dick Wellstood, Edwards, Eddie [1]
The Entertainer - Dick Wellstood, Joplin, Scott
Handful of Keys - Dick Wellstood, Horwitz, Murray
You Go to My Head - Dick Wellstood, Coots, J. Fred
I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling/Zonky [Medley] - Dick Wellstood, Link, Harry
Ain'tcha Got Music?/Old Fashioned Love [Medley] - Dick Wellstood, Johnson, James [01]
Keep off the Grass - Dick Wellstood, Johnson, James [01]
Track Listings (17) - Disc #2
Ring Dem Bells/Sophisticated Lady/Jumpin' Punkins [Medley] - Dick Wellstood, Ellington, Duke
Someone to Watch over Me/How Long Has This Been Going on?/Liza ... - Dick Wellstood, Gershwin, George
Maple Leaf Rag - Dick Wellstood, Joplin, Scott
Russian Rag - Dick Wellstood, Cobb, George L.
Caravan - Dick Wellstood, Ellington, Duke
Limehouse Blues - Dick Wellstood, Braham, Philip
Diane (I'm in Heaven When I See You Smile) - Dick Wellstood, Pollack, Lew [Compo
Giant Steps - Dick Wellstood, Coltrane, John
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?/Groovin' High [Medley] - Dick Wellstood, Bergman, Alan
The Pearls - Dick Wellstood, Morton, Jelly Roll
Like Someone in Love - Dick Wellstood, Burke, Johnny [Lyri
Shoe Shine Boy - Dick Wellstood, Cahn, Sammy
Lulu's Back in Town - Dick Wellstood, Dubin, Al
Prelude to a Kiss/Pitter Panther Patter [Medley] - Dick Wellstood, Ellington, Duke
My Melancholy Baby - Dick Wellstood, Burnett, Ernie
Keepin' Out of Mischief Now - Dick Wellstood, Razaf, Andy
March of the Musketeers - Dick Wellstood, Friml, Rudolf
This double CD is a foot-stomping, never-before released, recording by Dick Wellstood, live and in person, preserving all of the atmosphere of the occasion and his bantering with an audience of jazzers, who had braved the ... more »elements to hear one of the piano masters at work and at play, on a November night in 1986. The unique recording contains it all from his first "hello" to the audience to his final "good night" and along the way we are treated to perhaps the greatest pianist of his generation at the peak of his form.« less
This double CD is a foot-stomping, never-before released, recording by Dick Wellstood, live and in person, preserving all of the atmosphere of the occasion and his bantering with an audience of jazzers, who had braved the elements to hear one of the piano masters at work and at play, on a November night in 1986. The unique recording contains it all from his first "hello" to the audience to his final "good night" and along the way we are treated to perhaps the greatest pianist of his generation at the peak of his form.
"Dick Wellstood was a brilliant jazz pianist with a style that was based in stride but could also encompass much of the history of jazz. How many jazz musicians could in one concert comfortably play songs by composers ranging from Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, and Duke Ellington to Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane? This recording perfectly captures Dick Wellstood's personality and mischievous sense of humor. The playing is all on a dazzling level. Highly recommended!"
Wellstood at his Best
B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 10/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This 2 CD solo set, recorded live in late 1986, catches Dick Wellstood at the height of his powers. It is fashionable now for young players to have a knowlege of the history of the music and an ability to play in a range of styles, but Wellstood was doing this years ago. The breadth of his jazz repertoire is demonstrated here, from Joplin through the classic stride of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller and broadway show tunes to pieces by Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. Added to this breadth was a dynamic and percussive style which could combine surprising delicacy, deeply imbued bluesiness and gospel influences with enormous swing and joyousness.Most of all, his playing was characterised by tremendous musical wit and intelligence, and this CD displays it in full force. Listen for example to the Monk influence which keeps emerging, in the bridge of "Like Someone in Love", in "Limehouse Blues" and most of all in the wonderfully spiky "You Go To My Head". Outrageous quotes are another Wellstood speciality given full rein here.Wellstood's ballad playing has often been underestimated, but there are some fine examples here, especially the opening "Lullaby in Birdland" and "There Is No Greater Love". Wellstood also delivers some characteristically brilliant stride piano, including a definitive rendition of "Keep off the Grass", a driving "Caravan" and a Joe Sullivan influenced "Fidgity Feet".One other feature adds greatly to the album: Wellstood's banter with the crowd. Listen to him working the room for requests, only to reject them or to denounce the requester of "Robbins Nest" as a "be-bopper" and refuse to play "controversial tunes". Excellent liner notes by Marty Grocz round off a wonderful release.Nominated by a number of jazz magazines as one of the best releases of 1997, this is a definitive record of Wellstood at his late period best. No lover of jazz piano should be without it. Recommended without reservation."
Wellstood Sparkles
L. W. Dean | S. Glastonbury, CT USA | 12/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the masters of stride piano, Wellstood demonstrates his ability to play cascades of notes that sparkle like a shower of gems. Often beginning in a slow, rather reflective, way, he sometimes keeps to that vein, for example in The Entertainer, or moves on to his full overdrive stride style. In most of his pieces he manages to work in at least a bit of progressive jazz harmony in a way that enhances his interpretations.If you are not familiar with his work, this is an ideal place to starf. If you are, and you do not have this two CD set, by all means buy it now."
Live at the sticky wicket - Dick Wellstood
Barbara I. Robertson | Orangeville Ontario Canada | 10/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a CD by one of the most brilliant exponents of Stride and Rag-time piano,-sadly a dying art form.
This CD quite revives memories of actually seeing Dick Wellstood perform live at the Cafe Les Copains in Toronto many moons ago!!"