[Dixielandjazz] Tribute to Dick Hyman-- from Bob Byler

Fri Oct 26 14:35:17 PDT 2012

Tp  DJM:

From:  Norman Vickers  Jazz Society of Pensacola

Our illustrious moderator suggests it would also be good for DJML.  See Byler’s write up and comments by Mike Lynch and Vickers.

Thanks.

From: Robert Ringwald [mailto:rsr at ringwald.com] 
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 3:33 PM
To: Norman Vickers
Subject: Re: Tribute to Dick Hyman-- from Bob Byler

If you haven’t yet, please post on DJML.  

From: Norman Vickers <mailto:nvickers1 at cox.net>  

Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 11:17 AM

To: 'Mike Lynch' <mailto:mikelynch1 at bellsouth.net>  

Subject: RE: Tribute to Dick Hyman-- from Bob Byler

To:Musicians & jazzfans list

From:  norman

Pensacola jazzfan Mike Lynch comments about Tribute to Dick Hyman.

Teddy Wilson taught brother of the Jazz Baroness, Pannonica de Koenigswarter.  That was her intro to the world of jazz in NYC.

Thanks Mike.

From: Mike Lynch [mailto:mikelynch1 at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 1:03 PM
To: Norman Vickers
Subject: Re: Tribute to Dick Hyman-- from Bob Byler

I’m just reading the part of Teddy Wilson’s book where he refers to teaching Hyman at Julliard (Roger Williams too).

From: Norman Vickers <mailto:nvickers1 at cox.net>  

Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 11:05 AM

To: Bob Byler <mailto:jazzbug2002 at yahoo.com>  

Subject: Tribute to Dick Hyman-- from Bob Byler

To: Musicians & Jazzfans list

From:  Norman Vickers

Jazz journalist and jazz photojournalist Bob Byler sends this review of Tribute to Dick Hyman.  Thanks, Bob.  I have shown Byler’s e-address in case anyone wishes to communicate directly with him.

Fnv

Tribute to Dick Hyman, from Bob Byler, for Norm Vickers' email list  10-26-12

               "The Virtuoso of Venice--Jazz Artistry of Dick Hyman" is an exhibit honoring the  famed pianist, composer, arranger and musical director at the Venice Museum and Archives in Florida.

               It opened with a reception for community leaders September 20 and continues through November 28.   The Hymans bought a home in Venice in 1989 and now have two more for Dick's music studio and his wife Julia's sculpturing studio.

               Displays in the exhibit include Dick's records, sheet music, posters, awards and memorabilia in a 65-year continuing professional career.   It is highlighted by a new 44-minute video interview with Dick at his piano, adding background music from it or records as more than 80 historic photos, other visuals and video clips are inserted.

               The video, produced by Ed Vinson of Venice Media Group, could be adapted to show on public television.  The event also may inspire funding for a museum expansion sought by director James Hagler, including jazz exhibits not offered elsewhere on this culturally-rich Florida Suncoast area. 

               Early milestones recounted in the video are Hyman in a 1945 Navy band, his first nightly solo gig  in 1948 at the Wells Music Bar in Harlem, with Tony Scott's quartet at Cafe Society and opening Birdland in 1949 with Max Kaminsky's Dixieland Band.  He toured Europe in 1950 with Benny Goodman's band and was in many groups at  New York City clubs and for recordings. 

               He became a staff musician, arranger and show director for radio and TV, doing  daily programs with the WMCA Radio orchestra, with NBC for five years for Sid Caesar's, Nat King Cole's, his own variety show and popular soap operas and game shows.  Dick reports that his "last steady job," was for three years with Arthur Godfrey's CBS shows. 

               He shared in two Emmy awards for a daytime drama and PBS special on pianist Eubie Blake.  Hyman was music director for 12 Woody Allen films, led the New York Jazz Repertory Orchestra that played Carnegie Hall and a band playing Louis Armstrong's music on a Soviet Union tour.   He also directed Oregon's Festival of American Music for eight years and the Jazz in July series at New York City's 92nd Street Y for 20 years until he stepped down in 1993.  

               These are among highlights reported with fascinating insights by Hyman in the video, only a partial "catalog" of his rich musical life.  Another source is his 1992 book, "Dick Hyman: Piano Pro," that includes his Keyboard magazine columns with creative insights into musicians lives, performing styles and environment.  It is still offered at low cost on his website at  DickHyman.com.

               He is on some 200 recordings under his own name and maybe "thousands" more with other artists.  A new release that he treasures is "Late Last Summer" with his violinist daughter Judy.   He also compiled an amazing  five-CD set, "Dick Hyman's Century of Jazz Piano," that presents and analyzes the evolution of piano styles.

               Hyman discovered Florida's Suncoast when playing a Sarasota Jazz Festival.

His contributions here include directing events and performing at Sarasota and Venice jazz festivals and leading all-star concerts in Naples.  He also draws fans to Venice Theatre and churches that are key performing venues.  He directed two tributes to bassist Bob Haggart, another famous Venice resident, for the late Mat Domber's Arbors Records and performed at its all-star parties at Clearwater Beach.

               Concerts he led in Sarasota featured longtime associate Canadian vibist Peter Appleyard, banjoist/vocalist Cynthia Sayer and recently reedman Ken Peplowski.  He can also be heard on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" and often on Jim Cullum's "Live from Riverwalk" radio programs.  

               Hyman has performed worldwide, on all continents but Africa he reports.  His original clarinet concerto score debuts this month at a music fest in Finland.  A few other highlights are seven National Academy for Arts and Sciences awards, compositions for  chamber music and dance groups, music for the Oscar-winning film  "Moonstruck" and making Billboard charts with an early Moog synthesizer recording of "Minotaur."

               Friends and fans of Dick Hyman enjoy his congeniality, unselfish help to other performers and creative personality.  I'm charmed by an opening  photo in the video showing Dick and Julia as sweethearts who married in 1948, then a closing video as they stroll on Venice Beach with a gorgeous sunset backdrop and "seal it with a kiss."   

               One of the reporters at the September 20 tribute event was Fran Valencic, who took photos and reported in her weekly column: "Dick and Julia Hyman are two people who make Venice a great place to live."  I might add, "and the world a better place." 

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