The life and career of the African-American composer William Grant Still qualifies as the quintessential American success story. Often referred to as the Dean of African-American composers, Still rose from humble beginnings to work as an arranger while studying composition with Chadwick and Varèse. An active participant in the Harlem Renaissance, Still wrote works that are nationalistic, using African-American forms such as the blues, spirituals and jazz in addition to other ethnic American genres. The piano works on this recording are essentially visions of African-American life and history, through which Still depicts the positive nature and progress of a courageous people, from the African cradle of civilization, to a glorious future in the afterlife. The orchestral version of Africa is available on Naxos 8.559174.