Alone at the Palace [Original recording reissued]

Dave McKenna, Joe Venuti | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Chiaroscuro Records
• ASIN: B000003H93
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,808 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #47 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard swinging CD!, December 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Alone at the Palace (Audio CD)

Venuti is an underrated master, one of the hardest swinging musicians of all time. McKenna is a perfect match, his piano playing here is is on a level with Art Tatum-maybe better. This was given to me as a gift. I can't believe how good these guys are...this CD is fantastic.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A personal favorite., July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Alone at the Palace (Audio CD)

One of my personal favorites. The alternate takes of Jazz Band Ball included on the CD are better than the original LP version.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All it takes is two, October 3, 2010

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alone at the Palace (Audio CD)

Joe Venuti's name is known to everybody who follows the music. Musicians are always telling stories about him and about his stories and practical jokes. Perhaps less familiar is his playing, going back to his 1920s recordings with Eddie Lang, the Father of Jazz Guitar. Then there's the period between the mid-30s and mid-60s when he was largely silent, in the throes of depression and alcoholism. But then came his inspiring comeback beginning about 1970 with a summit meeting with the "boss violinist," Stephane Grappelli. But he made no more scintillating recordings than those with the Father of Jazz Piano, Earl Fatha Hines, and finally this one (his very last recording date) with Dave McKenna.

McKenna lays down those patented walking bass lines of his (said to be the envy of even Art Tatum), perhaps with as strong a pulse as he's capable of, and Joe simply thrives on it, inspired to play at his very best on his final recording. And when Joe is through with his solo, there's not the least hint of a let up. That left hand keeps pumping out deep, resonant, creative bass lines while the right hand simultaneously ventures into melodic territory all its own.

There are other duo recordings, many of which dispense with the explicit contributions of a rhythm section. What's unique about this recording is that it doesn't.