Some of pianist-vocalist-composer
Fats Waller's "greatest hits" are on this introductory sampler but the packaging could certainly be better. The caricature on the cover shows
Waller with a beard, the 14 selections are randomly programmed, some of the recording dates are inaccurate (this version of "Honeysuckle Rose" is from 1937 rather than 1941) and there is no personnel listing, an inexcusable omission in every CD in this well-intentioned but erratic series. There are some classic performances on
Waller's CD including "Handful of Keys," the 1937 all-star rendition of "Honeysuckle Rose" (with uncredited appearances by
Tommy Dorsey and
Bunny Berigan!), "The Joint Is Jumpin'," and "Your Feet's Too Big," making this one of the better entries in this program. ~ Scott Yanow