Joe Sullivan

In June and September of 1952, Joe Sullivan recorded eight versions of songs composed but never recorded by Thomas "Fats" Waller. Issued on a 10" LP entitled Fats Waller First Editions (Epic LG1003), this music soon drifted into obscurity. It resurfaced years later on Mosaic's The Columbia Jazz Piano Moods Sessions, a limited-edition box set of seven CDs. In January of 2004, the Classics Chronological series quietly released all eight of these magnificent trio renderings as part of the continuing saga of Joe Sullivan. Hardly anybody seems to have noticed this important historical development. Yet Fats Waller devotees everywhere should be notified, as they now have ready access to Waller melodies with titles like "What's Your Name," "Solid Eclipse," "Never Heard of Such Stuff," and "If You Can't Be Good, Be Careful." Classics 1353 also includes a powerful quartet session from December of 1945 with George Wettling, Pops Foster, and the mighty Sidney Bechet. There is a fine, relaxed treatment of King Oliver's "West End Blues," with Clarence Williams' lyrics sung by Stella Brooks. Three studies for trio and nine magnificent piano solos were recorded in San Francisco in 1953. Sullivan sounds relaxed and happy to stretch out. Listeners get something like a concert version of "Little Rock Getaway," a "Honeysuckle Rose" that feels a lot like a Joe Sullivan/Thomas Waller duet, and a whole stack of standards and originals. But the main reason to track this down and carry it with you at all times is the inclusion of those almost forgotten Waller originals, lovingly rendered with immaculate ease by the amazing Joe Sullivan. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide