Fats Waller was a vocalist, composer, even a comedian and satirist, but most importantly, he was a phenomenally gifted piano player, and his smooth stride style always sounds fresh and vital. This three-disc, 66-track overview of his RCA Victor recordings (he began recording for Victor Records in 1926 and continued with the label until his death in 1943) spotlights all the aspects of his immense talent, as a singer (check out the assured "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby"), composer (the classic "Ain't Misbehavin'" is included here in several versions), and solo pianist ("African Ripples," "Viper's Drag," and a fine version of
James P. Johnson's "Carolina Shout"). Few performers in the history of jazz, or in the pop realm for that matter, have been able to combine such musical brilliance with such a steady, fun, and crowd-pleasing manner, traits that made
Waller the prototypical entertainer. This is joyous music. ~ Steve Leggett