Jack Fina Plays Boogie Boogie

After Hours

Jack Fina Plays Boogie Woogie
Dot Ultra High Fidelity DLP 3243
1960

From the back cover: The velocity and dexterity of Jack Fina's digital extremities at the pianoforte are virtually incalculable. Which is just another way of saying: Man, like he plays a whole bunch of piano! The truth of this statement will become readily apparent to anyone sampling the selections which are etched in these grooves.

For his first Dot album, Jack has chosen a group of songs which are not usually considered "boogie-woogie-type." Here he has lent his patented boogie woogie treatment to such tunes as Deep Purple, Temptation, Kitten On The Keys, Swanee River, the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto, Flight of the Bumblebee and others.

The later selection, known as Bumble Boogie, had a lot to do with establishing Fina as one of the country's leading piano stylists. Some fifteen years ago, Jack performed the arrangement for a hit recording with the Freddy Martin Orchestra. In addition, he was the pianist on such famous Martin recordings as Warsaw Concerto, Tonight We Love, the Rachmaninoff Concerto and the Grieg Concerto.

Following these triumphs with the Martin Ork, Fina formed hi own orchestra and began playing the nation's better hotels. He continued with this orchestra until early in 1959, at which time he disbanded and formed a trio. He is currently playing an indefinite engagement at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. It is this trio of Jack, Tiny Magardo on drums and Herb Lessner on bass, which performs on this album.

Born in Clifton, New Jersey, Jack began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. He earned a teaching degree at New York College of Music, while organizing and playing with dance bands around town. Prior to joining the Freddy Martin Ork, Jack was staff pianist at Radio Station WOR in New York and also toured with the Clyde McCoy band.

So here, once again, are the fabulous pianistics of Jack Fina. He displays the same sparkle and pyrotechnical ability which skyrocketed him to national prominence. Like, man he's the most – at least!

From Billboard: January 4, 1960: Jack Fina, who used to perform on wax with the Freddy Martin crew, turns in a bright group of readings here of a collection of standards, played in clever boogie-woogie style. Selections include "Kitten on the Keys," "Ballin' the Jack," "Begin the Beguine" and "Honky Tonk Train."

X-Temporaneous Boogie
Deep Purple Boogie
Kitten On The Keys Boogie
Temptation Boogie
Boogie Woogie
Bumble Boogie
Swanee River Boogie
Concerto Boogie
Ballin' The Jack
After Hours
Honky Tonk Train
Begin The Beguine Boogie