Backgrounder: Milt Bucker's 'Block Chords Parade'

What are block chords? That's when a pianist (or guitarist) plays a melody with chords rather than individual notes. This is done with the top note of the chord playing the melody line with chord notes below creating the harmony. Block chords are often played on piano with a “locked hands" technique, when both hands play block chords in unison or lock-step. To illustrate, let's visit with the great Dick Hyman...



As Dick notes, Milt Buckner pioneered the block-chords sound, in part to create excitement while playing piano in Lionel Hampton's band and to make his piano louder and more robust on stage.

Here's one of my favorite Buckner albums, Block Chords Parade, without ad interruptions...