Customer Reviews

At The Piano, Volume 1

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

 

 

I transcribe Art Tatum's music, so it did not take me very long to find out that applause was electronically added to well known non-live and classic performances. I found this to be very offensive. Art Tatum is the greatest jazz pianist who ever lived and does not deserve to be a vehicle for such a digusting rip off. This practice if it exists anywhere else should be banned, unless the listener in warned. This might explain why there is virtually no documantation anywhere to go with the CD. Also it might answer the previous reviewer's question regarding the dates of these performances.

To the best of my knowledge, Art Tatum only recorded "Three Little Words" once... it appears on THE STANDARD TRANSCRIPTIONS. I was excited to discover that he had apparently recorded it live as well, but having read previous reviews here, and noticing that the song titles mirrored those of THE STANDARD TRANSCRIPTIONS almost exactly, I decided to listen to the Real Audio extract of "Three Little Words" from this album. It is absolutely the same as performance as the one on THE STANDARD TRANSCRIPTIONS. Do yourself a favor -- buy THE STANDARD TRANSCRIPTIONS instead, and avoid the overdubbed applause.

I knew I'd heard these versions before on other discs, but what a low blow to pass these off as LIVE recordings. It's pretty obvious that the audio levels between piano and audience aren't even close to matching. Not only that, but I don't think there was ever a club where Tatum would have permitted such rampant conversation during his entire performance. Either that, or the audience was the stupidest to ever congregate.
It's a moot point to discuss Tatum on the disc; he's always been the best. But don't help line the pockets of whatever fat cat exec thought up this moronic concept.

If one wanted proof that Art Tatum was the greatest (and I for one don't) this album would be Exhibit A. Tatum sits down at the keyboard before an enthusiastic audience at the Crescendo Club, and the excitement begins.From the first bars his genius is proclaimed. Song after song of creative improvisation flows from his fingertips. He is endlessly inventive in his unique melodic style,never repeating an idea or phrase from beginning to end.This recording illustrates that what was impossible for other pianists was effortless for Tatum,even in a live performance.Listening to masterpiece follow masterpiece, one has the impression that Art could continue improvising all night,weaving his polyphonic magic in a succession of brilliancies. My only complaint is that the date of the recording is not given.From the focused and comtemplative style, I would guess the early 50's.

then again, they've also added background conversation to complete the club atmosphere ... it's done very well, though, I don't mind it so much.. I wonder if it was an attempt to disguise the surface noise on the masters? works for me, so I'm gonna go ahead and give it a five star rating, minus one for the background chatter; I can say this is more forgiveable than filtering out the surface noise. Now the applause (or downright screaming and shrill raucus cheering ) that was added to a BB King compilation I once bought was something else altogether.