The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces [Box set]

Art Tatum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 6
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Pablo
• ASIN: B000000XHR
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime > Stride Piano
  • #34 in Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime > Boogie-Woogie

Track Listings

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly "Group Masterpieces", September 28, 2000

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces (Audio CD)

In addition to recording Art Tatum in solo piano sessions that would yield an amazing seven CDs worth of material, Norman Granz also captured Tatum in a variety of group settings that would produce eight individual volumes of music. "Art Tatum - The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces" brings all of these group recordings made between 1954-56 on six discs. This music in its collected form has to represent one of the towering achievements in recorded jazz history, not to mention jazz piano and classic 50s jazz. I won't go into specifics about the songs, sessions and personnel because the editorial review does that, and I have already written individual reviews for Volumes 3, 4 and 6 (plus there are excellent, informative reviews for the remaining titles by other customers). The Box Set is a major purchase, but if you are considering getting three or four of these volumes individually, you might as well get this because you will save money in the long run. Besides I guarantee you if start with Volumes 6, 7 and/or 8, you will fall in love with this music, and will want the whole enchilada anyway.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable, April 1, 2006

By 

Richard W. Cutler - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces (Audio CD)

Tatum's genius has never been in doubt, but at times his virtuosity could impede his rich jazz instinct. These group recordings bind Tatum a bit, in that he has to take in the idiosyncracies of his colleagues, but that limitation is actually liberating. Because his colleagues here are all great musicians themselves, no one is cowed by Tatum's mastery. The songs vary from plain lovely (Benny Carter, Roy Eldridge) to utterly sublime (Ben Webster, Lionel Hampton). It is the Hampton tracks that are the greatest revelation: The two men speak in almost identical language on their instruments and inspire each other to to a kind of tense passion that is mark of great jazz improvisation. The only conceivable negatives have nothing to do with the music. The packaging is indifferent, and the liner notes by Benny Green, while erudite, are written in a tone just this side of paranoia. The music could not be better.

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic piano playing - Pablo's packaging, not so good, November 28, 2000

By 

D. W. Horne (5263 BS Vught, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces (Audio CD)

You don't need to read my comments about Art Tatum's piano playing - he is simply amazing.

You will, however, be disappointed with the packaging. Pablo decided to use CD cases designed for 4 CDs per case to hold 3 CDs. These cases (you get 2 of them for those 6 CDs) take up a fair amount of real estate. The booklet they enclose is the size of a LP and the box that holds everything is the equivalent of a record case (LPs) that would hold all of Beethoven's symphonies.

I get the feeling that Pablo was trying to get rid of old LP boxes and used them to hold the CDs and booklet. I would have bought this set anyway, but Pablo could have done a much better job with the packaging.