Solo Masterpieces 3

Art Tatum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pablo
• ASIN: B000000XNC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,018 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly A Solo Masterpiece, January 21, 2001

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Solo Masterpieces 3 (Audio CD)

Before Norman Granz brought Art Tatum into the studio a half-dozen times in 1955-56 to record what would become known as the "Group Masterpieces," he brought the legendary pianist into the studio nearly a dozen times from 1953-55 to record what would become the eight CD volumes of the "Solo Masterpieces." (By the way, feel free to check out my reviews of Group Masterpieces Volumes 3, 4 & 6, and of the Boxed Set collecting all eight volumes.) Art Tatum is arguably the greatest pianist in the history of jazz, and the world owes a great debt to Mr. Granz for having the insight to document him in such variety and quantity. For those of you who are hesitating because this is a solo jazz recording, don't! Art has a style of playing flurries of notes, so that at any given time it sounds like a trio session. But don't get the wrong impression, Tatum is not merely a master technician, but a sensitive and sincere virtuoso. Another intimidating aspect of these "Masterpiece" volumes, whether it is the Group or Solo, is the shear number of them. I would suggest, as the Penguin Guide does, to start with Volumes 4 or 6, but any one of them will do fine for they are all truly, modern piano masterpieces.