Live 1953-1955, Vol. 7

Personnel: Art Tatum (piano); Art Tatum; Steve Allen (piano); Slam Stewart, Frank Carroll (bass instrument); Everett Barksdale (guitar); Bobby Rosengarden (drums).
Liner Note Author: The Mike Hennessey Chastet.
Recording information: Festival Of "Modern American Jazz" At The Civic Auditor.
Photographer: Duncan P. Schiedt.
Volume seven in the nine-CD series of previously unreleased and formerly scarce Art Tatum performances features the miraculous pianist mostly with his 1950s trio of guitarist Everett Barksdale and bassist Slam Stewart. Tatum is featured on a pair of radio shows, performing "Yesterdays" on the Spike Jones show, at a concert, and on two broadcasts of Steve Allen's Tonight Show. The latter is particularly intriguing, for Allen at one point interviews Tatum and gets him to repeat one of his rapid lines a few times. For "Fine and Dandy," Steve Allen is persuaded to play second piano with Tatum, faring pretty well. Other highlights on this valuable CD include "Soft Winds," a rapid "Tea for Two," "My Heart Stood Still" and two versions apiece of "Memories of You" and "Sweet Lorraine." ~ Scott Yanow