A Handful Of Keys

Fats Waller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2011)
• Original Release Date: April 27, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Buddha Records
• ASIN: B00000IM66
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,458 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > Jazz > Jive Jazz
  • #72 in Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime > Stride Piano

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Dizzy Gillespie claimed that "Fats could eat up a piano"--one of the clearest expressions of the great Waller's talent ever uttered by another master. But what's frustrating for all pianists about Waller was said by Fats himself in the middle of a vast piano solo that sounded as if he had four hands and two pianos going at once: "It's so easy when you knows how!" To add credence, the great Art Tatum declared "Fats ... that's where we all came from." To add credence listeners can experience, it's difficult to find a musician who cut as many records as Waller did in his short life of 39 years. Handful of Keys boasts previously unrecorded selections like "Stop Beatin' 'Round The Mulberry Bush," "My Best Wishes," and "What's the Matter with You," all of them masterfully performed. The biggest surprise here is "St. Louis Blues" done as a solo, in contrast to the early duet in March 1930 with Bennie Payne, then a member of Cab Calloway's orchestra. The solo version can render you unconscious because of both its stride and its luminous optimism. Fats's stride piano invokes a stomp and howl at (or with) anyone who can play so much piano and transmit such happiness through the music alone. The clever asides and burlesques of the rather simple-minded numbers RCA Victor forced him to record, of course, add to the hilarity, but the stupefyingly glorious wonder of Waller's technique and imagination are joyous. Handful of Keys is a keeper for all fans, be they Traditional, Bop, R&B, Rock, or whatever the present state of Jazz connotes. Fats is the cat who gave us many of the foundation stones of all jazz. --Daniel Bartlett Jr.

Product Description

A Handful Of Keys by Fats Waller

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of the series, October 6, 2004

By 

Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handful of Keys (Audio CD)

We may now be in re-issue heaven and the PROPER BOX series are up to No 72 as at Sep 2004. To my ear, some of the music now sounds dated such as the bebop saxophone re-issues, or some of the swing music of the forties. Duke Ellington of any period but perhaps especially from 1926 to 1944 still seems brilliant to me, and modern. Similarly, Louis Armstrong seems immortal. And this PROPER BOX of FATS WALLER is in that company. I find it difficult to name a musician of such calibre who was also a consummate entertainer who could redeem some musical rubbish just by his performance. My first record was a 12" 78 which had BLUE TURNING GREY OVER YOU on one side HONEYSUCKLE ROSE on the other. Both these sides - works that almost define what it means to swing, which combine rhythm, harmony and melody in such a delicious combination, both recorded in 1937 - are included in this Box Set of four CD's. The accompanying Booklet has 48 pages of biography, posters, photos, recording details, and biographical information as well as notes accompanying the records by JOOP VISSER. My one disappointment is that the set contains no records of Mr Waller on a large organ has he did record some Spirituals in England which were stunning. (He is featured on organ and piano on a number of tracks in the set though I assume it is a Hammond). Some of the music - such as I'M ON A SEE-SAW - are classics of swing music; others - I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES made acceptable by Mr Waller: none are filler. For music lovers of 20th Century music, this is an essential purchase of a compleat musician at the peak of his powers exuding the joy of creating some of the best swing ever.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hallelujah!, June 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Handful Of Keys (Audio CD)

This is a special treat for Waller lovers. It's Fats Live, which gives you more of an idea what an entertaining genius he was. It includes alot of the patented wisecracks, quips, asides and humbugs, but it also features truly enjoyable music. His spiritual rendition of "Hallelujah" is especially a revelation. The sound is very clean, free of the usual hisses and pops you hear from vintage recordings. Fats is such a hepcat, the only thing that gives this away as vintage are the somewhat corny comments by the radio announcers. To be expected though, and it just illustrates how far the man was ahead of his time. Waller is my favorite artist and this is (currently) one of my favorite albums by in my opinion, the true King of Jazz.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A difinitive look at Fats Waller in live radio broadcasts..., June 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Handful Of Keys (Audio CD)

With informitive liner notes by autor of JAZZ SINGING Will Friedwald, this is an essential addition to any jazz fan's music library. Although you can find some of these songs on import CD's. This domestic CD is easy to find, and has great sound, and includes some spectacular vocals and stride piano playing by the one and only Fats Waller... Essental...