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coram_deo 10-Sep-21, 18:34 |
 Hadn’t heard this version in a long time and liked it much more than I remembered liking it in the past, especially Art’s solo from 1:41 to 3:22. youtu.be Hard to believe this video was posted 3 years ago and only has 128 views 😔 |
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coram_deo 13-Sep-21, 19:37 |
This is another track from Art Tatum’s piano playing at a private party in Hollywood, California in the 1950s. Once I heard this song a bunch of times, it became my favorite from these CDs. Art doesn’t play this song fast, there are really no technical fireworks, but he plays it with such emotion that a guest at the party can be heard at the end of the song saying, “Geez, Art. Jesus.” Check out 2:36 to 3:02 in particular as a total refutation of critics who claimed Tatum had great technical virtuosity but played without soul. Critics like that just don’t get him and should turn in their critics’ credentials. youtu.be |
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coram_deo 15-Sep-21, 18:48 |
“April in Paris,” which is from Erroll’s “Concert by the Sea” CDs, is a hauntingly beautiful rendition of a great jazz standard. I particularly like the dream-like quality of Erroll’s playing from 2:15 to 3:28 and the really enchanting section from 4:01 to 4:10. Just an amazing rendition. Hard to believe a better rendition of this song exists - on any instrument. youtu.be |
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coram_deo 22-Sep-21, 20:27 |
“Hands Across The Table” from the Tatum Group Masterpieces. Art Tatum, Piano Benny Carter, Alto Sax Louis Bellson, Drums youtu.be |
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coram_deo 24-Sep-21, 13:25 |
youtu.be This track and “Undecided” are the two up-tempo tracks from this album, which features Art Tatum on piano, Benny Carter on alto sax and Louis Bellson on drums. Check out the section of Art Tatum’s piano solo *after* the drum solo and tell me that’s not 30 seconds of awesomeness. That 30 seconds makes the whole track, imo, though Art’s piano solo before the drum solo is also great. |
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coram_deo 25-Sep-21, 18:28 |
Beautiful rendition of a great song written in the 1930s. Musicians on this track are Art Tatum, piano; Lionel Hampton, vibes; and Buddy Rich, drums. Art Tatum has two piano solos on this track, and, while I like the first one, the second, from 4:34 to 5:03 is phenomenal as is how the musicians end this song, from 5:22 to 5:36. youtu.be Here’s some info on this song’s composition. From Wikipedia: "Stars Fell on Alabama" is the title of a 1934 jazz standard composed by Frank Perkins with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. The title of the song appears to have been borrowed from the title of the 1934 book of the same name by Carl Carmer. It refers to a spectacular occurrence of the Leonid meteor shower that had been observed in Alabama in November 1833, "the night the stars fell." As reported by the Florence Gazette: "[There were] thousands of luminous bodies shooting across the firmament in every direction. There was little wind and not a trace of clouds, and the meteors succeeded each other in quick succession." en.m.wikipedia.org Art plays a great version of “Stars Fell on Alabama” on the Tatum Solo Masterpieces, but I’m pretty sure that’s not available on YouTube, at least not with good sound quality. |
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coram_deo 27-Sep-21, 19:55 |
youtu.be Not a huge fan of the melody of this song, but I love the way Art Tatum and Buddy De Franco play it, particularly the last minute of this recording. I really wish Art Tatum and Buddy De Franco collaborated more - as far as I know, they only played together on one album (this one) from the Tatum Group Masterpieces. But we all owe Norman Granz a debt of gratitude for recording the great Art Tatum as much as he did in the last couple of years of Art’s life (he died at the age of 46 in November 1956 from kidney failure.) Musicians on this track are Art Tatum on piano; Buddy De Franco on clarinet; Red Callender on bass; and Bill Douglass on drums. The litmus test for any musician (imo) is to ask them if they’ve heard of Art Tatum and what they think of him. If they say they haven’t heard of him or don’t like him, that there, my friend, is a musician with bananas in his ears! 🍌 👨 🍌 |
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coram_deo 28-Sep-21, 21:11 |
“Why Was I Born?” youtu.be The sound quality’s not great, but it’s not bad either. I’d planned to post another great solo piano recording by Art Tatum called “Day In, Day Out,” but the sound quality on that recording makes it nearly unlistenable. I like these comments on this video: “for certain reasons this performance holds a special place in my heart. I have the LP but when i lived in NYC i found a CD of this. Amazing! the depth, the sound, the subtle harmonic passages. Absolutely bring a tear to my eye. TY so much. you made my day.” “Ha-ha, with a title like that, I was expecting something like this to come. Evidently whoever composed this tune was inspired by so sad a melody that he could think of no better title - or perhaps, whoever the lyricist was, could think of no better title to so sad a melody.” “I actually have this on 33 RPM record! Its my all-time favorite Tatum performance for sentimental reasons. Never fails to make me shed a tear. THANK YOU GULLIVIOR!” |
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coram_deo 25-Oct-21, 18:40 |
“Where or When” performed by Erroll Garner (piano,) Eddie Calhoun (bass) and Denzil Best (drums) live in Carmel, California in 1955. This track is from the cd “Concert by the Sea,” which is (by far) my favorite cd by a musician other than Art Tatum. BTW, the photos shown in this video include two of Erroll with Art Tatum (they were contemporaries.) Erroll had to sit on phone books when he played the piano ‘cause he was so small, but his talent was immense. youtu.be |
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coram_deo 09-Nov-21, 16:05 |
Beautiful rendition - especially 3:29 to 3:38 and the ending too. Critics who say Art Tatum was only a technical virtuoso and played the piano without soul or emotion have no idea what they’re talking about, and this delightful rendition is one of many songs that prove their criticism wrong. Art Tatum (imo) was the greatest pianist of all time in any genre - and quite possibly the greatest musician of all time as well. His playing is an acquired taste, but once you “get” Art Tatum and understand what he’s doing, you’ve discovered one of the greatest joys your ears will ever hear. youtu.be |
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coram_deo 09-Nov-21, 17:29 |
The part of the song I especially like is from 1:29 to 1:38. And the word in the song title apparently is Till and not Til. youtu.be Love the art work that accompanies this song! |
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