king ubu Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 I'm starting to get into Tatum. I picked up the two masterpiieces box-sets from the recent zweitauseneins sale. Then I have the Complete Capitol and the 20th Century Piano Genius 2CDs. What about some earlier recordings? Where could I start with Tatum? I am somehow reluctant to start with his later/latest music, so would be glad about some recommendations on earlier Tatum recordings. ubu Quote
brownie Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 Do you have any of the small groups sessions from the Pablo box? The Ben Webster-Tatum is a MUST. And I love the Eldridge-Tatum and the De Franco-Tatum and... I could go on and on Quote
king ubu Posted August 25, 2003 Author Report Posted August 25, 2003 Yes, I have the two boxes (solo & group) - in their german (ZYX) incarnations but the usual old Fantasy remastering (which sounds fine to me). I though about recordings from the thirties/forties. ubu Quote
mikeweil Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 The Decca CD (GRP 1-607-2) "Classic Early Solos 1934-1937" is some essential stuff, sound restoration is very good. In case it is out of print the Chronological Classics are a good way to acquire his early recordings. Quote
king ubu Posted August 25, 2003 Author Report Posted August 25, 2003 Thanks, Mike. I will look for that. Re: Classics, I'm a little bit afraid to start with getting them - because once I have two or three, I want to have all of them... ubu Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 I second the Decca "Classic Early Solos" recommendation. Also, the Standard Transcriptions are favorites of mine. The best current edition is probably the 2 disc set on Storyville. Quote
jazzbo Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 I'm pretty much in the same boat with Tatum as you King U--though I only have the Group Masterpieces, but I've moved into Decca waters and have some of the transcription material. . .trying to steel myself for my eventual and inevitable epic journey into the Solo Masterpieces box. . . . Quote
brownie Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 I'ld recommend the Classics, at least the first five volumes (up to 1947) and the current Storyville series. Volume 5 of the Classics has the VDisc version of 'Song of the Vagabond' that is a virtuoso musical stunt. The Classics have all the usual necessities. Quote
brownie Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 Ubu, Proper is also about to release an Art Tatum 4CD box. You can have a look at what's going to be inside at their propermusic.com site (go to new releases). They boxes are OK and their prices are unbeatable! Quote
mikeweil Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 You can have a look at what's going to be inside at their propermusic.com site (go to new releases). Sorry, I couldn't find any detailed contents listing on their site! Where are they? Quote
jazzbo Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 I couldn't find the track listings there either Mike. However good ole Worlds Records comes through as usual. Try this link: http://www.worldsrecords.com/cgi-bin/store...87&saved=artist Quote
brownie Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 (edited) The Proper Tatum box is at http://www.propermusic.com/code/products.asp?catid=12 Go to page 2 of the new releases and you have all the details. Edited August 26, 2003 by brownie Quote
jazzbo Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 Yeah, I found that page, but not a link to a track listing (though I swear I looked at the Slim Gaillard discographical material last week but don't see it now; maybe I'm just not seeing things right!) Quote
Free For All Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 I love both Pablo sets. Reasonably priced, too. Several times I've almost bought the Tatum HighNote "God Is In The House". Is there a concensus that this is a necessary purchase? I realize that it consists of those Jerry Newman acetates (which are sometimes of questionable quality) but how IS the quality of the recording? I always hear that Tatum live is often preferable to Tatum in the studio, so I'm interested in some of these live releases. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 The playing is of a quality that transcends recording quality. If you don't get it, tough! Quote
Free For All Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 Message received loud and clear! Thanks Chuck! Quote
jazzbo Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 The playing is of an order that trancends recording quality. Â And I have a lot of cds where this is the case, I can really stomach bad sound for stellar performance. This isn't one though where the sound stinks. I happen to think that Newman recordings like this are quite listenable. HighNote's reissues of the Onyx Newman stuff sound the best I have ever heard the material. Quote
Free For All Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 I agree completely, Lon. I have many favorite sides where the playing does indeed trancend rec. quality, like the live Trane/Monk, the Clifford Beehive (did that one ever make it to CD?), several Bird recordings and the live Birth of the Cool session, to name but a few. God will be in my house very soon! Quote
king ubu Posted August 27, 2003 Author Report Posted August 27, 2003 Thanks everybody for your recommendations! And sorry for taking that long to return - had some exams today at university and no time to be online. Following is the discography of the Proper box. Is this - as usual with Proper - only half or almost-complete sessions, or does this offer some exhaustive coverage of earlier Tatum? thanks, ubu DISC ONE - TEA FOR TWO Art Tatum, p New York, August 5, 1932 TO-1192 TIGER RAG CBS 26550 Art Tatum, p New York, March 21, 1933 13162-A TEA FOR TWO Brunswick 6553 13163-A ST. LOUIS BLUES Brunswick 6543 13164-A TIGER RAG Brunswick 6543 13165-A SOPHISTICATED LADY Brunswick 6553 Art Tatum, p New York, August 22, 1934 38387-A MOONGLOW Decca 155 38388-A I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU Brunswick 02015 38389-A WHEN A WOMAN LOVES A MAN Decca 741 38390-A EMALINE Decca 155 38391-A LOVE ME Decca 156 38392-A COCKTAILS FOR TWO Decca 156 Art Tatum, p New York, August 24, 1934 38426-A AFTER YOU’RE GONE Brunswick 01862 38427-C STARDUST Decca 306 38429-A ILL WIND Brunswick 02051 38430-A THE SHOUT Decca 468 38431-C BEAUTIFUL LOVE Decca 306 38432-A LIZA Decca 1373 Art Tatum, p New York, October 9, 1934 38428-C I AIN’T GOT NOBODY Decca 741 Art Tatum, p Hollywood, December 1936 STAY AS SWEET AS YOU ARE Jazz Panorama LP 15 I WISH I WERE TWINS Jazz Panorama LP 15 Art Tatum, p New York, November 29, 1937 62822-A GONE WITH THE WIND Decca 1603 62823-A STORMY WEATHER Decca 1603 62824-A CHLOE Decca 2052 62825-A THE SHEIK OF ARABY Decca 2052 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, April 12, 1939 DLA- 1759-A TEA FOR TWO Decca 2456 DLA -1760-A DEEP PURPLE Decca 2456 Art Tatum, p Hollywood, circa August 1939 IT HAD TO BE YOU Smithsonian 2029 DISC TWO - ELEGIE Art Tatum, p Hollywood, circa August 1939 OH YOU CRAZY MOON Smithsonian R 029 OVER THE RAINBOWSmithsonian R 029 Art Tatum, p Hollywood, August 1939 DAY IN-DAY OUT Smithsonian R 029 ALL GOD’S CHILLUN GOT RHYTHM Jazz Panorama LP 15 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, February 22, 1940 DLA-1936-A ELEGIE Decca 18049 DLA-1937-A HUMORESQUE Decca 18049 DLA-1938-A SWEET LORRAINE Decca 18050 DLA-1939-A GET HAPPY Decca 18050 DLA - 1940 - A LULLABY OF THE LEAVES Decca 18051 DLA - 1941 - A TIGER RAG Decca 18051 DLA - 1942 - A SWEET EMALINE, MY GAL Decca rejected DLA - 1945 - A LOVE ME Decca 156 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, July 26, 1940 DLA - 2069 - A BEGIN THE BEGUINE Decca 8552 DLA - 2070 - A ROSETTA Decca 8552 DLA - 2071 - A INDIANA Decca 8550 Art Tatum and his Band : Joe Thomas, tp; Edmond Hall, cl; Art Tatum, p; John Collins, g; Billy Taylor, b; Eddie Dougherty, d; Joe Turner, voc (-1) New York, January 21, 1941 68605-A WEE BABY BLUES (-1) Decca 8526 68606-A STOMPIN’ AT THE SAVOY Decca 8536 68607-A LAST GOODBYE BLUES (-1) Decca 8536 68608-A BATTERY BOUNCE Decca 8526 Art Tatum and his Band : Joe Thomas, tp; Art Tatum, p; Oscar Moore, g; Billy Taylor, b; Yank Porter, d; Joe Turner, voc. New York, June 13, 1941 69356-B LUCILLE Decca 8577 69357-B ROCK ME, MAMA Decca 8563 69358-A CORRINA CORRINA Decca 8577 69359-B LONESOME GRAVEYARD BLUES Decca 8563 Art Tatum Trio : Art Tatum, p; Tiny Grimes, g; Slam Stewart, b. New York, January 5, 1944 WN 1360-A I GOT RHYTHM Brunswick BL 58013 Esquire Metropolitan Opera House Jam Session: Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, tp; Jack Teagarden, tb; Barney Bigard, d; Coleman Hawkins, ts; Art Tatum, p; Al Casey, g; Oscar Pettiford, b; Sid Catlett, d. Metropolitan Opera House, New York, January 18, 1944 VP 467 MOP MOP V-Disc 152 Same Date, omit Louis Armstrong VP 469 ESQUIRE BOUNCE V-Disc 163 DISC THREE - WILLOW WEEP FOR ME Esquire Metropolitan Opera House Jam Session: Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, tp; Coleman Hawkins, ts; Art Tatum, p. Metropolitan Opera House, New York, January 18, 1944 JDB-91 MY IDEAL V-Disc 655 Art Tatum Trio : Art Tatum, p; Tiny Grimes, g; Slam Stewart, b. Milwaukee, March 11, 1944 EXACTLY LIKE YOU Shoestring SS105 Art Tatum Trio : Art Tatum, p; Tiny Grimes, g; Slam Stewart, b New York, May 1, 1944 T3-B-3 FLYING HOME Comet T3 T1-B-3 DARK EYES Comet T1 T2-A-4 BODY AND SOUL Comet T2 T2-B-3 I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW Comet T2 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, May 1945 1040-1 HALLELUJAH ARA 4501 1046-1 YESTERDAYS ARA 4503 Art Tatum, p "Just Jazz", Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, April 2, 1949 JJ82 TATUM POLE BOOGIE Columbia CL 6301 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, July 13, 1949 5039 WILLOW WEEP FOR ME Capitol 15520 5040 I COVER THE WATERFRONT Capitol 15518 5041 AUNT HAGAR’S BLUES Capitol 15520 5042 NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT Capitol 15519 5043 SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME Capitol 15714 5044 DARDANELLA Capitol H 216 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, July 25, 1949 5045 TIME ON MY HANDS Capitol 15712 5046 SWEET LORRAINE Capitol 15713 5047 SOMEBODY LOVES ME Capitol 15714 5048 DON’T BLAME ME Capitol 15713 Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, September 29, 1949 5049 MY HEART STOOD STILL Capitol 15712 5050 YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME Capitol 15841 5051 I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES Capitol H 216 DISC FOUR - GOIN’ HOME Art Tatum, p Los Angeles, September 29, 1949 5054 GOIN’ HOME Capitol H 269 5055 BLUE SKIES Capitol H 216 5056 IT’S THE TALK OF THE TOWN Capitol H 269 5057 DANCING IN THE DARK Capitol H 216 Art Tatum, Hollywood, circa 1949-50 WRAP YOUR TROUBLES IN DREAMS Jazz Chronicles JCS 101 JUST-A-SITTIN’ AND A-ROCKIN’ Jazz Chronicles jcs 101 YOU’RE DRIVIN’ ME CRAZY Jazz Chronicles jcs 101 IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD Jazz Chronicles jcs 101 SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY Jazz Chronicles jcs 101 I’LL NEVER BE THE SAME Jazz Chronicles jcs 101 NIGHT AND DAY JazzChronicles jcs 101 Art Tatum, p Crescendo Club, Hollywood, early 1950 IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 THREE LITTLE WORDS Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 WHY WAS I BORN ? Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 IF I COULD BE WITH YOU Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 MEAN TO ME Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 I GUESS I HAVE TO CHANGE MY PLANS Gene Norman Presents GNP 9025 CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS ? Gene Norman Presents GNP 9026 WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE ? Gene Norman Presents GNP 9026 CRAZY RHYTHM Gene Norman Presents GNP 9026 LIMEHOUSE BLUES Gene Norman Presents GNP 9026 I’M COMING VIRGINIA Gene Norman Presents GNP 9026 Art Tatum Trio: Art Tatum, p; Everett Barksdale, g; Slam Stewart, b. Cafe Society, New York, circa 1951 THE MAN I LOVE Broadcast "Voice of America" Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 28, 2003 Report Posted August 28, 2003 The set seems to be fairly comprehensive for the '30s (eliminating alts and transcriptions), then they start skipping sessions and individual tracks. They make one interesting mistake - they list 12 tracks from two GNP lps as recorded at Gene Norman's Crescendo club in early 1950. This is a deception created by GNP. The lps consisted of Standard Transcription titles with audience noises dubbed in. I spotted this in the early '80s and mentioned it to Gene Norman. He just got a blank look on his face and denied it. Anyway, this seems to be a very good collection if you want an inexpensive way to get some prime Tatum. Quote
king ubu Posted August 28, 2003 Author Report Posted August 28, 2003 Thanks, Chuck! Will look for this then, rather than the Classics. The Neatworks then would add alts. ubu Quote
EKE BBB Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 I agree completely, Lon. I have many favorite sides where the playing does indeed trancend rec. quality, like the live Trane/Monk, the Clifford Beehive (did that one ever make it to CD?), several Bird recordings and the live Birth of the Cool session, to name but a few. God will be in my house very soon! Since this afternoon... God´s in my house too. Astonishing playing! And sound quality is not as bad as expected, when you´re used to hear early jazz recordings. Quote
EKE BBB Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 Guess there´s some duplication with this Storyville "Tatum Live 1934-44" and the HighNote "God is in the house"??? Quote
EKE BBB Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 And just to clarify my mind: Having up until now these Tatum releases: -Complete Pablo solo masterpieces -Complete Pablo group masterpieces -Complete Capitol recordings -20th Century piano genius -God is in the house -Virtuous (Jazzlab compilation with material from 1944-49) -and one cheap compilation with earlier sides Should my next purchases be: -early recordings: Classics (for a "complete approach") OR the Proper Box (for a "fairly comprehensive approach" for the 30s). Guess the 2CD Decca "Classic early solos 1934-37" is duplicated with both Classics and Proper releases -Standard Transcriptions -the Storyville Live Tatum series (by now up to Volume 3 out of 8) ??? Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 I would have thought Classics - there can only be around 4-5 CDs worth covering (roughly) the 32-44 period? Quote
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