The Fabulous Joe Venuti

• Artist: Joe Venuti
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1995
• Total Time: 57:27
• Type: Compilation (best of), Live
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Whether (according to his own personal mythos) violinist Giuseppe "Joe" Venuti was born on a boat packed with Italian immigrants in 1903, or if like his friend Salvatore Massaro (better known as early jazz guitar virtuoso Eddie Lang) he was birthed and bred in South Philly, what's certain is that 40 years after Lang's tragic death following a botched tonsillectomy, a septuagenarian Venuti traveled to his ancestral homeland and made records with two Italian jazz groups led by guitarist Lino Patruno. Recorded in Milan on May 3, 1971 and September 13 and 14, 1974, and originally released on two Vanguard LPs (Joe Venuti in Milan and Jazz Violin) the material was reissued in one package in 1995. Surrounded by capable brass, reed, and rhythm players, the venerable Venuti whipped up 14 old-time jazz standards and a medley of themes by George Gershwin. These recordings complement the elderly fiddler's excellent comeback recordings for the Chiaroscuro, Concord and Flying Fish labels. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Sweet Georgia Brown	Kenneth Casey, Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard	Joe Venuti	(2:54)
After You've Gone	Henry Creamer, Turner Layton	Joe Venuti	(3:29)
I've Found a New Baby	Spencer Williams, Jack Palmer	Joe Venuti	(2:53)
Jazz Me Blues	Tom Delaney	Joe Venuti	(3:44)
An American in Paris/Rhapsody in Blue/'S Wonderful/Oh! Lady Be Good/I Got	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Joe Venuti	(5:40)
Louisiana	J.C. Johnson, Andy Razaf, Bob Schafer	Joe Venuti	(2:40)
Undecided	Charlie Shavers, Sydney Robin	Joe Venuti	(4:07)
Clementine (From New Orleans)	Henry Creamer, Harry Warren	Joe Venuti	(4:26)
Margie	J. Russel Robinson, Benny Davis, Con Conrad	Joe Venuti	(3:12)
Honeysuckle Rose	Fats Waller, Andy Razaf	Joe Venuti	(4:08)
Stars Fell on Alabama	Mitchell Parish, Frank Perkins	Joe Venuti	(4:14)
(Back Home Again In) Indiana	Ballard MacDonald, James F. Hanley	Joe Venuti	(3:48)
Some of These Days	Harry Brooks	Joe Venuti	(3:46)
Sweet Sue, Just You	Victor Young, Will J. Harris	Joe Venuti	(2:57)
Georgia on My Mind	Stuart Gorrell, Hoagy Carmichael	Joe Venuti	(5:29)

Credits

Remi Ettore (Percussion), Gil Cuppini (Percussion), Joe Cusumano (Guitar (Acoustic)), Giorgio Alberti (Trumpet), Renato Barzago (Piano), Giorgio Alberti (Flugelhorn), Carlo Bagnoli (Sax (Baritone)), Lino Patruno (Vocals), Sergio Rigon (Sax (Alto)), Lino Patruno (Bass), Joe Venuti (Vocals), Tony Parisi (Guitar), Sante Palumbo (Piano), Marco Ratti (Bass), Veryl Oakland (Photography), Giancarlo Cinti (Bass), Lino Patruno (Banjo), Bruno Longhi (Clarinet), Joe Venuti (Violin), Paolo Tomelleri (Sax (Tenor)), David Baker (Programming), Gianni Acocella (Trombone), Giancarlo Barigozzi (Flute), Sergio Rigon (Flute), David Baker (Digital Remastering), Lino Patruno (Guitar), Sergio Rigon (Sax (Baritone)), Fred Holtz (Art Direction), Helmut Schlitt (Cornet), Giancarlo Barigozzi (Sax (Baritone)), Joe Cusumano (Guitar (Electric))