Daybreak (CD)

Introducing to American audiences a brillant young German pianist, Chris Hopkins, whose swing-oriented and stride-inspired piano playing finds is roots in Earl Fatha Hines, Teddy Wilson and Jess Stacy, as well as in the stridemasters of Harlem, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller and Willie The Lion Smith, "Chris Hopkins", Dan Barrett enthuses, "is one of the most talente young pianist I've heard. I just flipped when I first heard him because he's not yet out of his twenties and, although his playing reflects his study of the men who created jazz piano, he brings his own iedeas to the table." (Producer's Note) - Compositions: Irving Berlin (1), Thomas 'Fats' Waller/Andy Razaf (2), Lee Robin/Clifford Grey/Vincent Youmans (3), Hoagy Carmichael (4), Eddie Green (5), Earl 'Fatha' Hines (6), Edward 'Duke' Ellington (7,15, 16), Billy Rose/Thomas 'Fats' Waller/Harry Link & Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown (8), Chris Hopkins (9, 19), Edward Heyman/Johnny Green (10), Edgar Sampson/benny Goodman/Irving lls (11), Teddy Wilson (12), Joe Bushkin (13), Paul James/Kay Swift (14), Leon 'bix' Beiderbecke (17), Willie 'The lion' Smith (18)