Customer Reviews

Group Masterpieces 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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I have said it before and I'll say it again, the entire Art Tatum Small Group Masterpiece Series on Pablo is a 5 star product so don't be hesitant to pursue any of them. These were the brainchild of producer/promotor Norman Granz in the 1950's. This Volume features Tatum with legendary trumpeter Roy Eldridge supported by John Simmons on bass and Alvin Stoller on drums. A very nice relaxed quartet setting providing ample room for these two legends of jazz to shine. 10 tracks overall with two being alternative takes. All standards done in the typical head-solos-head swing format as well as a few ballads. Highly recommended.

One of the reasons why some people consider Roy Eldridge the greatest trumpeter of all time is due to this recording.

Other recordings, such as Roy and Diz, show Eldridge playing with fire and technique that can match Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespe. - Hot swing and bebop playing by Roy

This recording shows him playing with emotion and subtleness that can match Bix Beiderbeche and Chet Baker - cool jazz by Roy.

He and both Tatum compliment each other and Eldridge was smart enough not to get into a cutting session with Tatum, not because he couldn't handle it, but because maybe the bass and drummer could not have kept up.

In this league with most of the stuff Bix did, i.e. more up tempo than a cool jazz session, but less franatic than a swing/bebop session

By the way, why does Amazon include a 'NO' in 'was this review helpful to you?'. People are only human and don't like opinions that differ from themselves, thus the 'NO' makes it too easy express such displeasure.

Are they trying to discourage negative reviews, hence not purchase the CD. Such reviews only help a person in not being dissatisfied a product that received positive reviews

For the fans of jazz...or of Art Tatum...this is a must have.