and pianist died in 1997, but during his lengthy career, he had credentials that included stewardship with vintage icons , , and . This reissued CD combines his recordings for the label. Though none of these tracks are composed by , he has chosen material by many classic songwriters and a few lesser-known pianists, and plays all of them so expertly. is very consistent to the point of overkill, but this is what he does. There are 13 officially titled rags, including the easy ; the truly classic upbeat ; a definitive, happy and slower both written by the immortal ; and a chordal, slightly dissonant penned by icon . Others to savor are the nailed-on-the head evergreen 's awesome and the peppy jams at near five minutes, epic for a solo pianist in this style, during the signature lines that turn complex and intricate during and in he shows some virtuosic flourishes, but not to the extent of being flashy or fancy. is stylized for sure, but good fun and more whimsical. As the personal discography of was limited even though he produced many sides that are nearly impossible to find, this is a precious document, a very well preserved tape digitally reproduced with professional care, and a must-own item for fans of this slice of Americana. ~ Michael G. Nastos