I'd say that one of the most meaningful compliments anyone in the business has paid me was when Earl said he wanted to do this album of my music. He dug into every period of my career for his selections. I even sent him stuff that wasn't ordinarily available. So, this is really an uncommon collection. I have to admit that I was surprised when he included "Lazy Bones." To me, it's just a simple little song and certainly' not an instrumental. So, what would it be doing on an album like this? But, Earl wanted to choose his own and do his thing with my music and his treatment of this simple melody (in double time) amazes me. Earl puts every piece through its paces. He pulls things out of my music I never thought were there.

His venture into "Stardust" lasts for over ten minutes and he goes everywhere with his improvisations. He takes you into the known and the unknown. It's like a piano ride into a galaxy of stars but now and then he returns to earth to give you the pure melody.

To say that Earl is back - greater than ever — would be an understatement. Here is Hines - one of the jazz innovators and pioneers of the '20s — rocking the '?Os. Now that's some kind of remarkable.

I'm mighty proud that he included my music in the three-album series on Audiophile. Every music buff (even outside of jazz) should have all three: "My Tribute to Louis," "Hines Comes in Handy," and this one. These three are brothers. They were all recorded in two successive days. He played them all on the same Steinway Concert Grand in the same studio. He just played and played and everything was going for him. The quality is superb, and considering his age, I am also amazed to learn that every single cut on this album was first-take. Talk about genius. You're hearing one in full bloom. Blooming for about 70 springs, I'd say. Thanks for listening. -Hoagy Carmichael