“EUBIE.” Dick Hyman. Sine Qua Non 71017....

“EUBIE.” Dick Hyman. Sine Qua Non 71017. (1 Charles St., Providence, R.I. 02904.) Dick Hyman was associated with the late Eubie Blake on several occasions (most memorably the Kennedy Center tribute attended by Blake just before his 100th birthday, for which Hyman was musical director). In this solo album, he performs 11 of Blake’s compositions, of which only two became world famous: “Memories of You” and “I’m Just Wild About Harry.” The latter is a typical marvel of Hymanesque virtuosity and imagination.

“Charleston Rag,” which Blake wrote in 1899, is performed the way the composer would have liked to play it in his later years, when he became too frail to apply this much energy or accuracy to it himself. “It Was Well Worth the While” is of special interest, since this was Eubie’s last published work: Hyman found the manuscript while rummaging around in Blake’s basement.

Some of the tunes are of less than world-shaking interest, but Hyman sublimates most of them with his Art Tatum runs, gear-shifts into Fats Waller superstride, and many strictly personal touches. As icing on the cake, there are affectionate and informative liner notes by Hyman. 4 1/2 stars.