Dick Hyman selected 22 songs for this collection, most of which were written in the early part of the 20th century, including novelty works and pop songs that were once popular but have long fallen from favor. Rather than improvise upon them, the pianist chose to research the original versions and play them as written. As a result, the pieces are allowed to stand on their own merits and one can appreciate what drew Hyman to them in the first place. Zez Confrey is the most widely represented composer (Hyman also dedicated an entire RCA album to Confrey's music) with five selections, the best known of which are the challenging "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist" and "Candlelights" are likely the most widely appreciated songs by mainstream jazz pianists, so it is refreshing to hear them as they were conceived. Hyman also explores neglected works by George Gershwin, Rube Bloom, Nacio Herb Brown, and less familiar composers with equal enthusiasm. One nice surprise is his rendition of Eubie Blake's "Dicty's on Seventh Avenue," a difficult work that dates from the latter years of the ragtime great's career (and its composer was still playing it in concert near the end of his long life). While the lack of improvisation may disappoint some jazz fans, this two-record set will provide an excellent starting point for budding jazz pianists to study these overlooked gems.