Customer Reviews

Poet of the Piano

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

 

 

This new CD includes recordings made between 1940 and 1947. They are monophonic. After thorough re-mastering many of them still show their age. However, despite some technical flaws, this album
contains many well known standards, that made Cavallaro famous.
Performance of "Brasil" or "Dancing in the Dark',"Carioca" played by
33 year old pianist show his improvisational skills and unmatched
virtuosity as well as his characteristic ornate style. On many of these recordings Cavallaro and his band play as instrumental accompaniment for Bing Crosby , Dick Haynes or Andrews Sisters where Cavallaro remains in the background. All recordings remain a great gift to all Cavallaro admirers bringing back a flavor
of an era of big bands and unforgettable piano soloists.

Deathless classics of American popular song in creative and virtuoso performances by one of the best popular pianists of his day, presented in the original monophonic sound with just enough modern electronic processing to remove some of the surface noise without interferring with the original sound. Not for those who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

If you watch a movie about the life of Eddy Duchin ("The Eddy Duchin Story"), you will discover how skillful Cavallaro was because he was the player in the film. Try to find this movie to understand what I mean.

He had a very characteristic personal style of interpretation.

If you do not know his style, verify if you can appreciate it in the samples of the albums Christmas (listen "Jingle Bells") and in the album "My Sentimental Heart: 1946" (listen "Lover").

The recordings of this album are old but OK, so that do not expect too much in this respect.

I like very much his "Manhattan" interpretation (that is contained in this album).

You won't be sorry that you purchased this if you love this era of music. He is a truly amazing piano player. I first fell in love with this music from the movie "Eddy Duchin Story" which is a must see. You can find yourself wrapped in a trance when you listen to this as it brings back the days..

The copy I got of this on LP for a dollar out of a bin has a buxom blond on the cover, who I thought was Carmen Cavallaro, female vocalist. I didn't realize Cavallaro was the guy on piano. What do you expect from a rock and free jazz guy.

I really can't judge this music, as I am completely novice at forties and fifties lounge. I will say, though, that Cavallaro has quicksilver fingers and a distinctive touch on the keys, and while I don't typically listen to this genre, I did enjoy Carmen, or at least his dancing fingers.

It's unlikely I'll play this again soon but it was worth the spin I took it for.

Old tunes dubbed in mono. Yor get what you pay for