Recorded in only one session, on the 27th January 1956 in Los Angeles, with the title The Art Tatum Trio, The Legendary 1956 Session was issued at that time by Verve. It was included in a series of studio recordings, arranged by the producer Norman Granz, with the purpose of gathering up the great names of jazz that seldom or never had played together. In most of the cases those albums have a great musical value and in Tatum’s the value is even higher. In fact, the pianist from Ohio was basically a soloist since he had performed as a soloist for the first ten years of his career with his own trio. Therefore he hardly participated to projects involving other musicians.
When it happened it was only for particular sessions organized by the far-sighted Granz, who succeeded in having him playing with Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, and Buddy Rich.
In this occasion, instead of another soloist there is a great rhythmic session: Red Callender on double bass and Jo Jones on drums. The result is ten takes and seven bonus tracks where Tatum plays alone, or with Hampton and Buddy Rich, or with his usual trio: Everett Barksdale on guitar and Slam Stewart on drums. You can fully enjoy the immense piano talent of this incomparable musician, in places even excessive, who was compared to God by Fats Waller and called “Out of this world” by all the others.
Art Tatum Trio
The Legendary 1956 Session
Poll Winners Records
CD
Total Time 75’21’’
1956-2011
