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A Handful of Keys
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MSRP: $9.98
Your Price: $9.40
Savings: $ 0.58 ( 6% )
Shipping: N/A
Manufacturer: Buddha
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Additional A Handful of Keys Information
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Dizzy Gillespie claimed that "Fats could eat up a piano"--one of the clearest expressions of the great Waller's talent ever uttered by another master. But what's frustrating for all pianists about Waller was said by Fats himself in the middle of a vast piano solo that sounded as if he had four hands and two pianos going at once: "It's so easy when you knows how!" To add credence, the great Art Tatum declared "Fats ... that's where we all came from." To add credence listeners can experience, it's difficult to find a musician who cut as many records as Waller did in his short life of 39 years. Handful of Keys boasts previously unrecorded selections like "Stop Beatin' 'Round The Mulberry Bush," "My Best Wishes," and "What's the Matter with You," all of them masterfully performed. The biggest surprise here is "St. Louis Blues" done as a solo, in contrast to the early duet in March 1930 with Bennie Payne, then a member of Cab Calloway's orchestra. The solo version can render you unconscious because of both its stride and its luminous optimism. Fats's stride piano invokes a stomp and howl at (or with) anyone who can play so much piano and transmit such happiness through the music alone. The clever asides and burlesques of the rather simple-minded numbers RCA Victor forced him to record, of course, add to the hilarity, but the stupefyingly glorious wonder of Waller's technique and imagination are joyous. Handful of Keys is a keeper for all fans, be they Traditional, Bop, R&B, Rock, or whatever the present state of Jazz connotes. Fats is the cat who gave us many of the foundation stones of all jazz. --Daniel Bartlett Jr.
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What Customers Say About A Handful of Keys:
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I'm listening to Fats Waller since 47 years.I thought I had all the records. This one I'discovered today has a live broadcast, recorded at the Yacht Club NYC, with Fats' best musicians. Those eight numbers are really gorgeous.I recommend this record to all Fats Waller fans who beleive they know evrything of him.
Fats Waller was unique in that he he didn't take himself or his obvious talent too seriously. You can hear that he's having fun in every song. No jazz piano collection is complete without some Fats Waller.
It is rare to find nice live sets with black musicians of this era, but to find live Fats Waller is a delight. Clearly they are having a ball playing, and you will have a ball listening. The sound quality is great (for recordings of this era), and the music is hot.
The sound is very clean, free of the usual hisses and pops you hear from vintage recordings. It's Fats Live, which gives you more of an idea what an entertaining genius he was. This is a special treat for Waller lovers. Fats is such a hepcat, the only thing that gives this away as vintage are the somewhat corny comments by the radio announcers. It includes alot of the patented wisecracks, quips, asides and humbugs, but it also features truly enjoyable music. His spiritual rendition of "Hallelujah" is especially a revelation. To be expected though, and it just illustrates how far the man was ahead of his time. Waller is my favorite artist and this is (currently) one of my favorite albums by in my opinion, the true King of Jazz.
the sound quality of this Cd is superb. The joy and enthusiasm of Fats' singing and playing comes bursting through. Try listening to this music without tapping your toes.
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