Customer Reviews

Art Tatum's Finest Hour

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Art tatums finest hour is a collection consisting of 19 tracks that spanned his career from the mid 1930 til the mid 1950's The tracks mostly solos but there are a couple of group performances. Quite a few tracks are very rare , Stormy weather.Get happy, Rosetta. The recordings vary in quality some are quite clear and other have significant hiss behind them. But hey these are some of the only recordings of early Art tatum. The tracks in which Art solos are as expected extraordinary. He's in rare form on standards like gone with the wind, Tea for two and too marvelous for words. This record mainly consists of many of Tatum's most played songs What I've come to appreciate listening to the music of Art tatum is regardless of how many time I hear him play Sweet Lorraine , begin the beguine or Jitterbug Waltz they always sound amazing and different. And i have quite a few tatum recordings. Overalll this Cd is a must have for Art tatum collectors. I'd give it 5 stars but because many of songs can be found elsewhere (although they'll be different versions) and the sound quality may turn off some. First time Tatumites might want to go with the 20th century piano genius which is just as good but has better sound quality. Full fledged Tatumites should grab this one up along with the essential God is in the house.

Art Tatum is all the wonderful things anyone tells you -- one of the most delightful, masterful human beings to ever touch the piano, and these tracks help prove it.

But the sound quality on tracks 1-11 of this CD is unforgiveable. I am used to listening to 78's, so I well know to expect surface noise when listening to CDs of music from this era, but the noise on this CD is not explainable by the fact that it came from 78's. I can understand the treble hiss not being rolled off, but it actually sounds like it's been BOOSTED -- to the point where it's very uncomfortable to listen even with your EQ cranked down. The same day I bought this CD, I had to clean up the sound quality with my computer software and burn a CDR just to be able to listen to the recordings without being in PAIN. I would expect far better from a big Jazz label like Verve. It sounds like no one at the company even listened to the CD master before sending it to the manufacturing plant. Art Tatum deserves much better.

Don't let the carelessness of this CD company stand in the way of discovering Art Tatum. His other CDs are well worth pursuing!

The song selections and Art's playing are truly awesome, but,
the sound quality of the first ten tracks is downright pitiful!
Track #11, 'Wee Baby Blues' with band & Joe Turner singing, is
more a novelty tune. The 'clean' tracks, #13 thru #19 are all
from the double-CD release: Art Tatum 20th century piano genius
- which is probably a better option. The remaining good track,
#12: 'I Got Rhythm' (w/ Tiny Grimes and Slam Stewart) is from
the CD: I Got Rhythm: Art Tatum Volume 3 (1935-1944)
- listen to this disc before buying it!

My first time listening to Art Tatum. Great Music. Deserves better rating.
(the sound quality didn't bother me much, but I also don't care too much about it)

The pops and hiss are a horrible distraction. Sounds like a cheap tape recording of a really scratched up record. Buy any other Tatum CD and you'll be much happier.

Art Tatum's playing on this album is truly amazing. It displays his virtuosity on almost all tracks. With long, running lines, and fast technical playing, Tatum is truly a genius. However, the sound quality really turned me off when I was first listening to the record. Its hard to not notice the fuzz, and if I feel that the record deserves a 4.5, nothing lower, which is why I rated it a 5.

I purchased this on a whim a few days ago. I am very glad I chose to do so. This is my first time listening to Art Tatum and I am awestruck by his exquisite piano. "Gone With The Wind" is absolutely enchanting. As is "Deep Purple."

I agree with the previous review that the quality on some tracks is lacking but the excellent music has a way of making you forget it.