Customer Reviews

Compl Associated Transcription Session 1935-1939

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These very rare recordings by Fats Waller (1904-1943) were produced for the radio.These short pieces were to be used to fill gaps in the programming.CD one,recorded in NYC,March 11,1935,is only made of solo pieces.CD 2,recorded August 7,1939, includes solo piano pieces,solo organ pieces and sixteen tracks with orchestra.
CD one is a real delight: Fats,alone,at his most relaxed,plays short versions of his repertoire,including many of his own compositions : "The viper's drag","how can you face me","handful of keys","honeysuckle rose","I'm crazy 'bout my baby","clothesline ballet","E flat blues","alligator crawl","my fate is in your hands","ain't misbehavin'","blue turning grey over you","russian fantasy" and "african ripples".Many of these tunes were recorded only once by Fats for commercial issue,and so these ones are very precious.The other tunes are standards: an incredibley swinging version of "Dinah",which reminds us of the amazing version Thelonious Monk did with it,"Baby brown","down home blues",Duke's "Solitude","Tea for two","believe it,beloved","Sweet Sue","somebody stole my gal","night wind","because of one upon a time","where were you on the night of June the third","hallelujah","do me a favor" and "California here I come".Twenty five tracks of some of the greatest piano playing of all times ("handful of keys","zonky"...) by one of the craziest man that ever was.As always,Fats' vocals are wonderful.For those who don't know Fats,this is a perfect introduction to his music;for those who are,like me,addicted to his infectious swing,these rare recordings are a treasure.
CD two includes sixteen tracks with Bugs Hamilton,tp,Gene Sedric,ts,cl,John Smith,g,and Slick Jones,dms.There are two takes of "the moon is low","E flat blues","honeysuckle rose","Crazy 'bout my baby" and "after you've gone",and one take of "Nagasaki","lonesome me","the spider and the fly","sweet Sue","ain't misbehavin'" and "the sheik of Araby".Track 17,"Dinah",is a short part of an organ solo,and the last five tracks are solo again: "poor butterfly","StLouis blues","hallelujah","tea for two" and "handful of keys",once again.Fats Waller's music sounds astonishingly young,more than sixty years after it was played.Indeed,Fats was one of the greatest geniuses of jazz,aand I'll never stop listening to him.His music is pure joy,incredibely inventive and swinging.These very rare records (I owned two french LP's in which only a part of these tunes figured) will enjoy everybody,I hope.If you don't fell in love with this man's music,I sadly think that you've got to stop listening to jazz.An inestimable reissue of one of the five essential jazz piano players,with Tatum,Hines,Duke,Monk and Bud.

This 2 CD set does indeed collect all recordings that Fats recorded for Associated Transcription Service. Fats did two sessions for Associated, the first in 1935, the second in 1939. Both sessions find Fats in fine form at two different junctures of his career. In the 1935 session, Fats plays and sings a few medleys of his recent songs he had recorded under his new contract with RCA Victor. In some instances he is joined by his band mate Rudy Powell on clarinet and alto saxophone. While Powell's tone quality is a bit harsh, his ability as a creative improviser is superb. There are some single piano solos as well and these are simply great. Disc two contains the 1939 session. Fats is joined by his regular group. It should be noted that in the years between the two sessions, Fats recorded extensively for Victor but many of the tunes were second rate. Fats' recordings of his own compositions and piano solos became few and far between. Because he had more freedom at Associated, it's no surprise that he chose more of his own tunes as well as standards that he admired. The jazz factor also seems to be a bit higher as well. Disc two ends with five dramatic piano solos. Along the way there are alternate takes and several fragments. There is a printing error. Disc one contains a piano solo simply titled E Flat Blues. Disc two has a track with the same title but it is B Flat Blues. These recordings have been availble in different pieces for years and it's really great that they are all completely together in one package. Sound quality is outstanding overall. A highly recommended set.