Search - Dick Wellstood :: Live at Sticky Wicket - Commemorating 10th Anniv

Brilliant jazz piano

B. D. Tutt | 07/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."