Customer Reviews

20th Century Piano Genius

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Outstanding.Amazing.Stupendous.Miraculous.Extraordinary.Majestuous.Imperial.This is Art Tatum (1910-1956) at his highest level.THis is simply piano playing at its highest level,wether it is jazz,classical,or any kind of music.NOBODY never reached,or just approached Tatum's incredible technique.Born blind,Tatum arrived in NYC in 1933 with Adelaide Hall,an ex-Ellington singer and quickly became the King.It is said that Fats Waller,playing one night in a club,and seeing Tatum in the hall,said "I'm playing here but God is in the house tonight";masters like Toscanini,Rubinstein and Horowitz used to listen to him and were fascinated by his talents.Tatum could play improbable chords progressions at the highest speed,and the swing was always here.He was one of the greatest geniuses in the history of music,and this record may be the most beautiful introduction to his world.
Most of the tunes were recorded July3,1955 in Beverly Hills,at Ray Heindorf's home,who was Musical Director for Warner Bros.EVERY tune is a masterpiece.You can't believe your ears when you listen to these treasuries."Sweet Lorraine",for example,is one of the most magnificent piece of music ever recorded.Or "begin the beguine",played at an infernal tempo;or George Gershwin's "someone to watch over me".Or "you took advantage of me",in which shades of Teddy Wilson appear.By the way,Tatum once said that he would have loved to BE ABLE to play like Wilson.The great Teddy never received a better hommage."yesterdays" is another gem,and Bud Powell could have played the ad-lib introduction;then,every classical pianist must have been terrified by what's coming.The somptuous "I'll never be the same" makes me think of the masterpiece Billie Holiday and Lester Young made of this tune,some 17 years earlier.The rare "little man,you've had a busy day" finds here its greatest interpretation."My heart stood still" again makes me think to Bud Powell,and also to Dinah Washington's gorgeous version.Tatum played the blues very rarely;of course,he waxed a couple of boogies that were real nightmares for every tickler;his version of Freddie Shayne's "Mr Freddie's blues" is a masterpiece of swing,sometimes remembering another mad man,Fats Waller.Sometimes,I wondered why Bud Powell played "there will never be another you";now,I know why.Once again,after an improbable introduction,Tatum goes into the tune with his very personnal,relaxed tempo that swings like mad.Same thing for "wrap your troubles in dreams",a tune Louis Armstrong made popular many many years before.And,to me,one of the most beautiful compositions in the jazz history,"memories of you",written by the immense pianist,Mr Eubie Blake (1883-1983).The fact is,that each musician who recorded this tune made a masterpiece of it: Armstrong,Monk,Pee Wee Russell,Doc Cheatham,Dollar Brand among others.
This two cd set is a magnificent introduction to Art Tatum's music,but more than this,it ranks among the greatest milestones in the music of the 20th century.Please,don't miss these hours of pure joy.

There is simply nothing else like this 2 CD set of Art Tatum. Even other Tatum discs dont compare to the tracks he laid down on these two evenings, one of them in 1950 and one in 1955.
In my opinion the sound quality here is better than any other Tatum CD. That is besides the point though. The fact is that on these two CDs you will here the great genius Tatum playing with more FEELING than ever before or after. That is all there is to it.
We are lucky to have 2 hours and 17 minutes of beautiful solos from Artur T! He plays many of the great standards. Tatum offers two version of each of the following songs: Love For Sale, Sweet Lorraine, Yesterdays, Body and Soul, Someone To Watch Over Me. Hearing the differences in those versions gives us a greater understanding of Tatum's genius...that is- how much can be varied within a given song.
Every song is a gem- but my absolute favorites include....wait, they are all so good, i could make a case for any one of them. One track, however, does stick in my mind unlike any other. It is Mr. Freddie Blues. Tatum plays half-jokingly, becuase he tells his friends that they like the "simple" stuff. So Tatum plays a blues in the key of C with no fancy runs at all. The result is spectacular, and you must hear it.
There is also a virtuoso fast performance of Begin the Beguine, amazing harmonies in Someone To Watch Over Me, constant key changes in Honeysuckle Rose, and the performance of After You've Gone which is both sad and humorous. And there are the two versions of Love For Sale that seem impossible to execute at that speed, but I am thankful that Tatum could execute his ideas. His ideas are endless and brilliant.
I must mention again that the FEELING on this album is beyond any other Tatum disc.
As far as solo piano goes, this ranks right up at the top with Glenn Gould's recording of the Goldberg Variations and Arthur Rubinstein's recording of Chopin Ballades.

This two-CD set is a great introduction to the greatest pianist who ever lived. Personal favorites on these CDs are Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, Body and Soul, I Cover the Waterfront, Some Other Spring, Moon Song, Don't Blame Me. In my opinion, his versions of Just Like a Butterfly (That's Caught in the Rain) and Without a Song are better on the Pablo Solo Masterpieces. Tatum was a genius, not only because of his incredible technique, but also his taste and his sense of harmony and rhythm. His playing is complex and deep and can only be appreciated by close and repeated listenings. I've been listening to AT for more than 20 years, and this two-CD set ranks at the top of my list.
Anyone who doubts that Tatum's genius extended beyond technique and into harmony should listen to the response from one of Ray Heindorf's guests after Tatum finishes playing "Some Other Spring." Tatum didn't play the song fast or include any technical fireworks, but the song was played with such emotion that the guest said, "Geez, Art. Jesus."
Tatum was phenomenal and should have been recorded much more often.

Fantastic solo piano recordings of Art Tatum at home with a few very lucky guests listening along. A wonderfully intimate recording, you can hear the background sounds of glass clinking, guests chatting between tunes (and occasionally during tunes), and Art's numerous big rings clicking on the piano keys. The playing is all vintage Tatum: breathtaking miniature epic explorations of standards that amaze and delight at every turn. The program is similar in style and song selection to the massive boxed set of studio recordings "The Complete Pablo Solo Masterpieces," yet I find myself listening to this release more often because it sets such a wonderful mood: transporting me to Art Tatum's living room on a relaxed early '50s afternoon, sharing some Pabst Blue Ribbon and being astounded by the genius at the piano... why don't you stop by, too?

To hear this record is to not believe it. I bought it in 1998 and brought it on a trip to Alexandria, Va. I unwrapped it and started playing it on my discman in my hotel room before I unpacked any of my stuff. I sat on the edge of the bed for two hours listening to it, stunned. I am still stunned. This is a staggering record.

I just received this double CD today and I am STILL CATCHING MY BREATH! This is my first Tatum CD and what an introduction it is, I cannot bring myself to press stop on the CD player, just let it play all day!
In my opinion what makes this even more beautiful is that it is all solo Tatum, no other instruments to hold him back.
I would give this 2cd, 7 stars if I could. The sound quality is terrific considering that they are all home recordings.
Buy it! You will be glad that you did!! Enjoy!!

There is a very telling moment on this disc that pretty much sums up the whole experience that is Art Tatum. On track 4 of disc 2 (Moon Song), after already blazing for three minutes and thirteen seconds, he commences to fire off a run that elicits an outburst of snickering and chuckles from the listeners in the room. (Not because the mood is mirthful, mind you, but because it's so good that it's funny). Enough said.

I own all 8 Pablo Solo Masterpiece CDs and consider those discs to contain the standard against which all other Tatum recordings should be measured against. The setting, recording, pacing, arrangements, playing; everything about those is absolutely priceless, pristine & perfect.

This 2 CD set of material from private parties is a wonderful artifact to have also. It's lovely to be able to hear Tatum in this setting even though slighly less than ideal. His ideas are brilliant as always.

I would not suggest "20th Century Piano Genius" as the CD to start with if you are new to Tatum or don't yet have any of the Pablo series. But it is a great addition to the recorded legacy of Art Tatum's beautiful genius.

In my jazz- listening days many years ago I came upon the work of Art Tatum, and was captivated by it. I simply felt it was the best. He played with such sweep and such lyrical freedom. The great standard numbers did not lose their identity in his playing but rather were expanded and enhanced. The sweep of the playing and the great feeling of joy and freedom it gave remain in my mind.
What great music this man made.

This is a review for the Jazz Heritage label double CD reissue
of a double LP set of live recordings titled "Art Tatum, 20th Century Piano
Genius," a title which is not only accurate, it's an understatement.

Alltogether there are 39 seperate tracks of Art Tatum playing
mostly standards in this live recording setup taped at two
different Hollywood parties by Ray Heindorf in April 16, 1950 and
in July 3, 1955. The 1955 party was probably thrown to celebrate the
wrap up of shooting Jack Webb's PETE KELLY'S BLUES although as the
booklet notes say, it really seems like a celebration of Art Tatum as
much as anything else.

This being a couple of party recordings you are going to hear tape
imperfections as well as persistant noise from Art Tatum's rings hitting
the keyboard and, of course, the clink of glasses and the casual laughter
of party guests having a good time.

But that's one of the best things about this recording, everyone is happy
and loose including Art Tatum. No studio recording pressures here.
Just a loose, party atmosphere in which everyone, including the sole
performer is obviously enjoying themselves.

The total playing time of the two discs comes to roughly two hours
and twenty two minutes with no filler. It's all Art Tatum, playing for
us right now as if he's in our living room relaxing with us and our
friends by doing what he did best. And in the unique way that only he had,
taking every familiar title and making it his own composition
in these truly individualistic and somewhat rare live performances.
I rate ART TATUM, 20TH CENTURY PIANO GENIUS five stars and am grateful for
the chance to hear Mr. Tatum play in this kind of setting.