Customer Reviews

Last of Whorehouse Piano Players (Original Sess.)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are TWO (count 'em, two) CD's called "Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players," both with Jay McShann and Ralph Sutton, but with completely different song listings. If you want to see the other, type that title into the Search box and they both pop up. They also have almost identical identifiers: The one with this review is Chiaroscuro; ASIN: B000003H98, and the other one is Chiaroscuro; ASIN: B000003H9F.

This is good, old-fashioned piano by two great artists. It is smooth, cool and designed to make your foot tap. The bass lines sometimes rumble like a freight train, while the speed of the right hands goes off the scale. If you listen to this, you won't need to go to the "Whorehouse" and you'll feel better. Better set your CD player to "Continuous replay", because you won't get enough. I would also suggest any other albums with Ralph Sutton.

This is my first jazz piano cd purchase, and it does not dissapoint. From the first to the last track, these soulfull tunes are catchy and energetic. Ralph Sutton and Jay McShann were truly underappreciated and unbelievably talented musicians.

I heard one clip on NPR driving home (actually from the duo's other album but as you can listen I chose this one due to the song selection). I remembered the name of the cd, [[ASIN:B000003H98 Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players: The Original Sessions], as it's a tad raunchy and made me laugh. I had been looking for something like this. Problem is always the quality of playing or the recording. Here you get A+ on both. It was as gleeful as I'd hoped and was great to hear these "lost" keys played by such talent. If you love a bawdy piano this is a must!

You don't have to be a lover of piano music to love this CD and the other one by Sutton and McShann that has the same title. Both CDs are fabulous sessions covering a range of music from old ballads to knuckle busting barrelhouse. I own a lot of Jay McShann's Kansas City Jump Blues CDs, and the Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players CDs make a great addition to the collection, although in a somewhat different genre. When I saw the title and cover artwork, I knew these recordings had to be winners, and they are. This stuff is just plain fun. I can't stop listening to them.

I'll try one more time: this is a great album--I own it--but it begins with "Little Rock Getaway" and ends with track 15, "Variations on A Weeping Willow." You still have the wrong track listings!

Please correct my review as above