Handful of Fats Fats Waller (Performer) and 50 similar items

Gary in San Jose 5.0 out of 5 stars Superb sounding Waller anthology This 20-track CD, A Handful of Fats: Original 1929-1942 Recordings, has been released under both the Pro Arte and Naxos labels. This is one of the very best single disk collections of Fats Waller's music. The sound on the 2004 CD is excellent (I cannot comment on the original 1992 release). Noise reduction is as much an art as a science, and this CD is one of the best sounding Waller anthologies. Granted, I do boost the treble to add a bit of presence, but the CD is very nearly noise free and musical detail is astoundingly good for the age of the source material. Eight of the tracks are piano solos--all of which are stunning displays of virtuosity. Waller was one of jazz's greatest pianists and swung as hard as any pianist of his or any other day. He played with a forceful stride pattern in the left hand and elaborate and syncopated melodic lines in the right hand. His right hand was dexterous and innovative, and his runs were quick and smooth beyond comparison. Waller was an exuberant entertainer and a composer of 300+ tunes. Eleven of the 20 included tracks are Waller compositions. A decided plus is the inclusion of Jitterbug Waltz, a fine Waller tune (that has been covered by everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Chet Atkins to Benny Goodman) with Fats playing an early Hammond organ in a big band setting. Fats Waller, 1904-43, recoded 600+ sides in his brief life, so any omnibus must be selective. Honeysuckle Rose and Ain't Misbehavin' are presented in less frequently heard piano solo versions--great music to be certain, but some beginners might prefer the vocal versions. This appealing CD could have been made even stronger by the addition of a few more of his vocal hits.