September 1997

Earl Hines
At Home
Delmark Records

By Chuck Berg

Earl "Fatha" Hines (1903-1983) was a radiant presence whose sunny pianistics left auras everywhere. Here, the master is literally at home. Recorded in 1969 at his residence in Oakland, California, on his own piano, a wonderful sounding 1904 Steinway, Hines makes magic with such well-known fare as "You Are Too Beautiful." "Minor Nothing" is one of several evocative originals. A special treat is Hines' heartfelt vocal on "It Happens to Be Me." Annotator Stanley Dance describes the date as "quintessential Hines." Amen! Indeed, it's a small miracle.