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Dick Hyman In the Styles of – The Great Jazz Pianists.
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Who is Dick Hyman?
Dick Hyman (born Richard Roven Hyman, March 8, 1927) is a legendary and incredibly versatile American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator, renowned for his mastery of virtually every style within the jazz idiom and beyond. Here’s a breakdown of his significance:
- Masterful Pianist & Stylistic Chameleon:
- He’s celebrated for his extraordinary technical skill and encyclopedic knowledge of jazz piano history.
- He can authentically play and improvise in styles ranging from ragtime and stride (imitating masters like James P. Johnson and Fats Waller) to swing, bebop, cool jazz, and even avant-garde.
- He’s known for remarkable solo performances where he seamlessly transitions between eras and masters (like imitating Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, or Thelonious Monk within a single piece).
- Prolific Composer & Arranger:
- Composed hundreds of works, including jazz standards like “A Child Is Born” (written with Thad Jones).
- Created significant extended works like “Ragtime Fantasy,” “Sonata for Trumpet and Piano,” and orchestral suites.
- Film Scores: He is perhaps most widely known to the general public for his long collaboration with director Woody Allen, composing and performing scores for films like:
- Zelig (1983)
- The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
- Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
- Radio Days (1987)
- Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
- Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- His scores often perfectly evoke specific historical periods in American music.
- Dedicated Educator & Author:
- Authored influential instructional books like “Dick Hyman’s Professional Chord Changes and Substitutions for 100 Tunes Every Musician Should Know” and “Dick Hyman’s Keyboard Musicianship”.
- Conducted countless workshops, clinics, and masterclasses worldwide.
- Served on the faculties of institutions like the Manhattan School of Music.
- Created educational recordings and video series.
- Versatile Performer & Collaborator:
- Worked with a vast array of jazz giants, including Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker (on the famous South of the Border session), Red Norvo, Ruby Braff, Buddy Rich, and Leon Redbone.
- Pioneered the use of synthesizers and electronic keyboards in jazz contexts during the 1960s and 70s (e.g., album The Electric Eclectics of Dick Hyman).
- Recorded extensively on player piano rolls, preserving and celebrating early jazz piano techniques.
- Was a key member of the New York Jazz Repertory Orchestra.
- Had an early career as a studio musician and musical director for television, working on shows like Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and serving as the first music director for The Tonight Show (when Steve Allen hosted).
- Awards & Recognition:
- NEA Jazz Master (2017) – The highest US honor in jazz.
- Multiple Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music in a Play.
- Guggenheim Fellowship for Music Composition.
In essence: Dick Hyman is a living encyclopedia of American piano jazz and popular music. His unparalleled technical prowess, deep historical understanding, immense versatility across genres, prolific output as a composer (especially in film), and dedication to education have cemented his status as one of the most respected and influential figures in jazz for over seven decades. He is a true master musician whose work bridges the past and present of American music. Remarkably, he remained active and performing well into his 90s.
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Dick Hyman plays a lot of piano… (Concert 1986 BBC)
Dick Hyman (piano solo) at the BBC – 1986 Concert
00:00 – Intro 01:00 – St Louis Blues (Boogie Woogie treatment) 05:04 – He loves & She loves (Gershwin) 10:46 – You’ve Got to Be Modernistic (James P. Johnson) 14:48 – Sweet Georgia Brown 21:51 – Django (John Lewis) 27:05 – Kitten on the keys (Zez Confrey) 29:58 – Finger Breaker (“Finger Buster” – Jelly Roll Morton) 32:51 – All The Things You Are 37:51 – Theme from the Purple Rose of Cairo (Dick Hyman) 40:32 – It’s Gonna Be A Great Day
Dick Hyman‘s Century of Jazz Piano 2009 (History of Jazz Piano Documentary Lessons)
Dick Hyman plays “Send in the Clowns”
Dick Hyman plays “Send in the Clowns,” originally composed by Stephen Sondheim. Recorded live at Farley’s House of Pianos as part of the Salon Piano Series on June 1, 2014. The instrument is a 1914 Mason and Hamlin CC.