Joe Venuti - Stephane Grappelli • The Best of the Jazz Violins

Review by Scott Yanow

This LRC budget release includes two unrelated sessions from a pair of the greatest jazz violinists: Joe Venuti and Stephane Grappelli. Venuti is heard in 1971 with pianist Lou Stein and a pair of Italian musicians (bassist Marco Ratti and drummer Gil Cuppini) performing "The Hot Canary" (a novelty piece) and six familiar standards including "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Tea for Two." Grappelli is caught in 1975 jamming his "Sysmo," Bud Powell's "Parisian Thoroughfare," and five older songs in a quartet with guitarist Jimmy Shirley, pianist Johnny Guarnieri, and bassist Slam Stewart. No real surprises occur, but the violinists are in fine form. These two sessions are a bit rare and worth searching for by fans of swing violinists.

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Reseña de Scott Yanow

Esta publicación del presupuesto de LRC incluye dos sesiones no relacionadas de un par de los más grandes violinistas de jazz: Joe Venuti y Stephane Grappelli. Venuti se escucha en 1971 con el pianista Lou Stein y un par de músicos italianos (el bajista Marco Ratti y el baterista Gil Cuppini) interpretando "The Hot Canary" (una pieza novedosa) y seis estándares familiares incluyendo "Sweet Georgia Brown" y "Tea for Two". Grappelli es atrapado en 1975 tocando su "Sysmo", la "Parisian Thoroughfare" de Bud Powell, y cinco canciones más antiguas en un cuarteto con el guitarrista Jimmy Shirley, el pianista Johnny Guarnieri, y el bajista Slam Stewart. No hay sorpresas reales, pero los violinistas están en buena forma. Estas dos sesiones son un poco raras y merecen ser buscadas por los fans de los violinistas de swing.

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Stephane Grappelli • Steff and Slam

Review by Ken Dryden
It only seems natural that violinist Stephane Grappelli and bassist Slam Stewart, two masters of swing whose careers both got underway in the 1930s, would eventually record together; they are joined by pianist Johnny Guarnieri, guitarist Jimmy Shirley, and drummer Jackie Williams. Things start off well with a lively run through "I Would Do Anything for You," featuring the leader's matchless violin and Stewart's trademarked bowing while singing in unison an octave above. Most of the rest of the numbers are also songs that both men likely played countless times during their respective long careers; there are no disappointments. Grappelli plays solo piano on two originals, "Sysmo" and "Flonville," while "Sweet and Lovely" was added from a different date, with Roland Hanna, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Duvivier, and Oliver Jackson taking over for the earlier rhythm section. Recommended.

 

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
Parece natural que el violinista Stephane Grappelli y el bajista Slam Stewart, dos maestros del swing cuyas carreras se iniciaron en los años 30, acaben grabando juntos; les acompañan el pianista Johnny Guarnieri, el guitarrista Jimmy Shirley y el batería Jackie Williams. Las cosas empiezan bien con un animado recorrido por "I Would Do Anything for You", con el inigualable violín del líder y el característico arco de Stewart mientras canta al unísono una octava por encima. La mayoría del resto de los números son también canciones que ambos hombres probablemente han tocado innumerables veces durante sus respectivas y largas carreras; no hay decepciones. Grappelli toca el piano solo en dos originales, "Sysmo" y "Flonville", mientras que "Sweet and Lovely" se añadió en una fecha diferente, con Roland Hanna, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Duvivier y Oliver Jackson sustituyendo a la anterior sección rítmica. Recomendado.

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