Great Jazz Pianists [Melodie]

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1958
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

The Classics chronological reissue series offers an unprecedented overview of vintage jazz and blues, transcending the original label copyright restrictions in order to document the recording careers of musicians who lived and died both in the limelight and the penumbra of popular culture. Each CD in the series represents a segment of a given artist's professional life, presenting, on the average, 24 historical tracks culled from original 78 rpm platters and early LPs. Drawn directly from this outstanding series, Great Jazz Pianists is a triple-disc tribute to three archetypal musicians whose innovations shaped the development of jazz and popular music: Jelly Roll Morton, Willie "The Lion" Smith and Art Tatum. In each case, the discs chosen from the series contain both solo and ensemble performances. Tatum's disc (1934-1940) references his early maturity; Smith's portion (1938-1940) focuses upon his peak middle years as soloist and bandleader, while Morton's contribution consists only of his very last recordings, cut for the General label in December 1939 and January 1940. Between the three of them, these pianists represent the evolution of jazz from its blues and ragtime origins through swing to the early intimations of bop. This entertaining and informative history lesson is recommended for listeners of all ages and of every persuasion. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Gus Kahn	Art Tatum	(3:09)
Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle	Teddy Powell, Walter Samuels, Leonard Whitcup		(3:09)
Body and Soul	Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton	Art Tatum	(3:09)
With Plenty of Money and You (Oh! Baby What I Couldn't Do)	Al Dubin, Harry Warren	Art Tatum	(2:43)
What Will I Tell My Heart?	Jack Lawrence, Irving Gordon, Peter Tinturin	Art Tatum	(3:09)
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm	Irving Berlin	Art Tatum	(3:02)
Gone with the Wind	Herbert Magidson, Allie Wrubel	Art Tatum	(2:53)
Stormy Weather	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Art Tatum	(3:13)
Chloe	Gus Kahn, Neil Moret	Art Tatum	(3:26)
The Sheik of Araby	Harry Beasley Smith, Ted Snyder, Francis Wheeler	Art Tatum	(2:44)
Tea for Two	Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar	Art Tatum	(2:39)
Deep Purple	Peter de Rose, Mitchell Parish	Art Tatum	(3:20)
Elegie	Jules Massenet	Art Tatum	(3:17)
Humoresque	Antonin Dvorák	Art Tatum	(3:06)
Sweet Lorraine	Mitchell Parish, Clifford R. Burwell	Art Tatum	(3:03)
Get Happy	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Art Tatum	(2:46)
Lullaby of the Leaves	Joe Young, Bernice Petkere	Art Tatum	(3:08)
Tiger Rag	Eddie Edwards, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, Larry Shields, James LaRocca, Harry DaCosta	Art Tatum	(2:16)
Sweet Emaline, My Gal	Henry Creamer, Turner Layton	Art Tatum	(3:00)
Emaline	Mitchell Parish, Frank Perkins	Art Tatum	(2:22)
Moonglow	Irving Mills, Eddie DeLange, Will Hudson	Art Tatum	(3:00)
Love Me	Ned Washington, Victor Young	Art Tatum	(2:45)
Cocktails for Two	Arthur Johnston, Sam Coslow	Art Tatum	(2:51)
St. Louis Blues	W.C. Handy	Art Tatum	(2:32)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Crave	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(3:05)
The Naked Dance	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:51)
Mister Joe	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:49)
King Porter Stomp	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:50)
Winin' Boy Blues	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:51)
Buddy Bolden's Blues	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:45)
The Naked Dance	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:50)
Don't You Leave Me Here	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:49)
Mamie's Blues	Jelly Roll Morton, Mamie Desdume	Jelly Roll Morton	(2:42)
Michigan Water Blues	Clarence Williams	Jelly Roll Morton	(3:00)
Sweet Substitute	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:54)
Panama	William Tyers	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:34)
Good Old New York	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:46)
Big Lip Blues	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(3:12)
Why?	Jelly Roll Morton, Ed Werac	Jelly Roll Morton Six	(2:46)
Get the Bucket	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Six	(2:51)
If You Knew	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Six	(2:38)
Shake It	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Six	(2:52)
Dirty, Dirty, Dirty	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:52)
Swinging the Elks	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:53)
Mama's Got a Baby	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:38)
My Home Is in a Southern Town	Jelly Roll Morton	Jelly Roll Morton Seven	(2:43)

CD 3

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Three Keyboards	Joe Bushkin, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Jess Stacy	Joe Bushkin, George Wettling, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Jess Stacy	(2:34)
The Lion and the Lamb	Minerva Pious	Joe Bushkin, George Wettling, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Jess Stacy	(2:59)
Morning Air	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:42)
Echoes of Spring	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:43)
Concentrating	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:40)
Fading Star	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:39)
Passionette	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:43)
Rippling Waters	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:47)
Sneakaway	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:34)
What Is There to Say?	Vernon Duke, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:48)
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers	(2:43)
The Boy in the Boat	Fats Waller, Clarence Williams	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:54)
Tea for Two	Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:42)
I'll Follow You	Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:41)
Finger Buster	Willie "The Lion" Smith	Willie "The Lion" Smith	(3:03)
Stormy Weather	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers	(2:40)
Peace on You	Hal Singer		(2:40)
Wontcha Do It to Me			(2:50)
Rushin'	Willie "The Lion" Smith		(3:14)
Noodlin'	Willie "The Lion" Smith		(2:40)
Doggin' the Dog	Joe Turner, J. Mayo Williams	Joe Turner, Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:44)
Careless Love	W.C. Handy, Martha E. Koenig, Spencer Williams	Joe Turner, Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:49)
Jumpin' Down Blues	Joe Turner, J. Mayo Williams	Joe Turner, Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:35)
Rainy Day Blues	Joe Turner, J. Mayo Williams	Joe Turner, Willie "The Lion" Smith	(2:53)

Credits

Henry "Red" Allen (Trumpet), Sidney DeParis (Trumpet), Jelly Roll Morton (Piano), Jelly Roll Morton (Director), Jelly Roll Morton (Vocals), Albert Nicholas (Clarinet), Bill Perkins (Guitar), Marshall Royal (Clarinet), Art Tatum (Piano), Art Tatum (Cello), Joe Bushkin (Piano), Zutty Singleton (Drums), Joe Turner (Performer), George Wettling (Drums), Wellman Braud (Bass), Bernard Addison (Guitar), Joe Bailey (Bass), Oscar Lee Bradley (Drums), Joe Britton (Trombone), Richard "Dick" Fullbright (Bass), Claude Jones (Trombone), Willie "The Lion" Smith (Piano), Jess Stacy (Piano), Perry Smith (Sax (Tenor)), Anatol Schenker (Liner Notes), Professor Lloyd Reese (Trumpet), John Mullins (Sax (Alto)), Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers (Performer), Eddie Williams (Sax (Alto))