muzycy:
Art Tatum: piano
Roy Eldridge: trumpet
John Simmons: bass
Alvin Stoller: drums

Editor's info:
The complete original LP Art Tatum-Roy Eldridge Quartet (Clef MG C-679), pairing the two stars with bassist John Simmons and drummer Alvin Stoller. This was to be the last recorded reunion of the two leaders as Tatum died the following year. As a bonus to the eight tracks on the original album, the only two existing alternate takes from these sessions have been added. Also included are solo piano versions of all of the songs included on the quartet session with Eldridge (Tatum recorded these solo piano tracks for Granz between 1953-1955, which have been organized here in the same song order as the quartet date).
Includes 20-page booklet

DOWN BEAT original review: ART TATUM-ROY ELDRIDGE QUARTET
"Roy plays with exciting intensity and the kind of whole-heart-and-body warmth that many of the younger trumpeters lack. As for Art, the depth and imaginative consistency of his conception over the years is a subject for debate, but not Art's dazzling mastery of time and his inimitably personal and influential voice." (Nat Hentoff)

Art Tatum was mainly a virtuoso soloist, and very rarely played with musicians other than his own regular trio. That's one of the reasons why the "group" recordings made by Norman Granz in 1955-56, showcasing Tatum with various other jazz stars, are so important to Tatum's discography. They show what he could do supporting other players, and how his ideas could match with the sound of the horns. All of his recordings after the mid-forties were in a trio or solo piano setting with the exception of the sessions Norman Granz arranged in the mid-'50s. The dates included on this CD are among the finest examples of Tatum's recordings for Granz. These sessions are truly among Tatum's most important works ever. As a bonus, we have included the only two existing alternate takes from these sessions, as well as solo piano versions of all of the songs included on the quartet session with Eldridge.......
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Editor's info:
The complete original LP Art Tatum-Roy Eldridge Quartet (Clef MG C-679), pairing the two stars with bassist John Simmons and drummer Alvin Stoller. This was to be the last recorded reunion of the two leaders as Tatum died the following year. As a bonus to the eight tracks on the original album, the only two existing alternate takes from these sessions have been added. Also included are solo piano versions of all of the songs included on the quartet session with Eldridge (Tatum recorded these solo piano tracks for Granz between 1953-1955, which have been organized here in the same song order as the quartet date).
Includes 20-page booklet

DOWN BEAT original review: ART TATUM-ROY ELDRIDGE QUARTET
"Roy plays with exciting intensity and the kind of whole-heart-and-body warmth that many of the younger trumpeters lack. As for Art, the depth and imaginative consistency of his conception over the years is a subject for debate, but not Art's dazzling mastery of time and his inimitably personal and influential voice." (Nat Hentoff)

Art Tatum was mainly a virtuoso soloist, and very rarely played with musicians other than his own regular trio. That's one of the reasons why the "group" recordings made by Norman Granz in 1955-56, showcasing Tatum with various other jazz stars, are so important to Tatum's discography. They show what he could do supporting other players, and how his ideas could match with the sound of the horns. All of his recordings after the mid-forties were in a trio or solo piano setting with the exception of the sessions Norman Granz arranged in the mid-'50s. The dates included on this CD are among the finest examples of Tatum's recordings for Granz. These sessions are truly among Tatum's most important works ever. As a bonus, we have included the only two existing alternate takes from these sessions, as well as solo piano versions of all of the songs included on the quartet session with Eldridge.......
more