Tatum, Art & Ben Webster
Essential Jazz Classics, 2009, CD
Instrument: Piano
Issue: 15.3
Jazz Ruler Type: Swing
Performance: 5
Sound: 4
Score:
O’s Notes: This studio session from September 1956 is a unique pairing of two jazz legends in prime form. Art Tatum (p) and Ben Webster (tenor sax) perform seven warm classics that will help take the edge off of your rough days! They are accompanies by Red Callender (b) and Bill Douglas (d). It was Tatum’s final studio session. He died a couple on months later from kidney disease. Art and Ben were exceptional here especially on “Night And Day” and “all Things That You Are”. There are five bonus tracks featuring Tatum playing the first five songs of the collaboration as a solo pianist. They were recorded three years earlier. While Art is one of the greatest solo pianists of all time, we prefer the depth and coloration of the pairing with Webster. This I a must have for a jazz aficionado.
Publicist: Music Video Distributors