Search - Art Tatum :: Live 1945-1949, Vol. 3

Rare Tatum Gems!

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 09/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 74 minute all solo CD is probably the best volume yet of Storyville's eight CD series of Art Tatum rarities drawn from radio and television broadcasts and private recordings.Tracks 2 -7 are V disc recordings, some available elsewhere, and range from a fine 4 minute long "Where or When" to a one and a half minute "Night and Day". Tracks 8 - 10 are drawn from radio broadcasts, and include a typically inventive reading of "Sweet Lorraine".However, for Tatum fans the primary reason to buy the CD are tracks 12 - 21, the long sought after but never previously released private recordings made by Ernie Faulkener in Toronto in 1949. The sound quality of these tracks is not good, but the quality of the music more than compensates for it. The claim is often made that Tatum played better in private than in the studio. In general this assertion has been met with some scepticism, but these tracks, along with the 1948 "Jazz Chronicle" and 1950-55 Ray Heindorf recordings lend it some credence. Tatum is inspired throughout this set. Two tracks stand out, both the only versions Tatum ever recorded of these tunes: a powerful version of "The Continental", and a jazz transformation of Chopin's Waltz in C# Minor, Opus 64 No. 2. This is an outstanding re-invention, more rumbustious than his much recorded arrangements of "Humoresque" and "Elegie". I can imagine Tatum playing this in cutting contests in response to Donald Lambert's own stride versions of the classics.Excellent notes by Tatum expert Felicity Howlett round off an invaluable release. This is an essential purchase for Tatum fans."

Real Tatum but horrible sound quality

J. C. Verheul | 09/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The tracks on the first half of the CD are well known from other publications (though not all, 3 were entirely new for me). The tracks on the second half of the CD (12-21) are so poor in sound quality that you can only recognize the extraordinary capabilities of Tatum if you already knew them. The sound quality suffers from a poor (upright) piano, lots of surround noise and poor recording equipment. The tracks 12-21 are in no way comparable to the Ray Heindorf recordings, that were also taken in a private situation. Ray Heindorf had at least a decent grand piano, and the public was at least willing to be silent. The tracks 12-21 are far worse in sound quality than the private recordings on de well known CD "God is in the House". Nevertheless, if you are an admirer of Tatum you should have this CD.

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