Complete Capitol Recordings of Art Tatum
All of Art Tatum's solo recordings are spectacular, and the 20 tunes he recorded for Capitol in 1949 are no exception. Each piece is subjected to Tatum's unique powers, with sudden rhythmic shifts, florid embellishments of the original melody, and cascading arpeggios that reach for, and achieve, new harmonic possibilities. Whether it's "Goin' Home," byAntonin Dvorak, or "Aunt Hagar's Blues," Tatum recasts his material into a complex, rhapsodic marvel. The final eight tracks are by a 1952 trio. While Tatum's momentum could carry a rhythm section, there's a special appeal to his group playing, a heightened sense of detail and a superbly relaxed swing. Everett Barksdale's light rhythm guitar keeps things sparking andSlam Stewartturns in some of his patented bowed bass work with accompanying humming, creating the illusion of a low-pitched kazoo.--Stuart Broomer