George Handy
Piano Solo on
Diggin' Diz

About

George Handy's piano solo is the first of six improvisations on this brisk swing performance, a contrafact based on the chord changes of "Lover." Taking one chorus of the 16-bar form in C at 210 BPM, Handy opens the extended solo section as both the tune's composer and the session's first soloist. His piano work sets the stage for the remarkable parade of improvisers that follows, his bebop-informed playing establishing the harmonic and rhythmic framework for the performance.

George Handy was 25 to 26 years old at the time.