Waller Thomas Fats - Performances In Transcription

Edited by Paul S. Machlin
The 17 transcriptions in this volume reveal the compositional artistry and comic play of Thomas Wright Fats Waller (1904-43) - virtuoso jazz pianist, organist, singer, bandleader, parodist, comedian, and composer in the Harlem stride tradition. Using pairs of transcriptions of the same tune, this volume explores the creative process within Waller's improvisations by demonstrating the wide variety of gesture and idea captured at the moment of recording. Alternate takes of I Can't Give You Anything But Love, for example, show how deep the stylist gulf between two versions of a song could become, even within the same recording session. Alternate takes of Waiting at the End of the Road performed on piano and on pipe organ demonstrate Waller's ability to exploit the different expressive possibilities inherent in the two instruments.
Drawn from recordings made throughout Waller's career, other pairs include a broad sampling of solo piano and pipe organ performances, popular songs, and small ensemble work: Ain't Misbehavin', Gladyse, Honeysuckle Rose, I Ain't Got Nobody, I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby, and Rusty Pail. A single transcription of Waller's little-known homemade acetate of That Does It from his 1943 show Early to Bed completes the volume. The accompanying essay explores the nature of Waller's compositional and lyrical ingenuity, illustrated by several recently discovered manuscript sketches that offer clues to Waller's musical imagination. Serving both performers and scholars, this volume should provide new insights into Waller's musical achievements.
TRANSCRIPTIONS INCLUDED:
[4 versions for solo pipe organ, remainder for solo piano or piano with ensemble or voice.]
1. Gladyse, 2 versions for solo piano
2. Rusty Pail Blues, 2 versions for solo pipe organ
3. Waiting at the End of the Road (Berlin), solo piano, solo pipe organ
4. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (McHugh/Fields), piano/vocal duet/ensemble, piano/vocal solo/ensemble
5. I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby (Waller/Hill), 2 versions for piano/vocal
6. Honeysuckle Rose (Waller/Razaf), 2 versions for solo piano
7. Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller/Brooks/Razaf), solo piano, piano/vocal
8. I Ain't Got Nobody (Williams/Graham), solo pipe organ, solo piano
9. That Does It, solo piano
CONTENTS:
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Waltzing the Rumba : Waller's Transformative Art
Waller's Career
Waller's Compositional Process
You Got Me Walkin', Talkin', and Squawkin' : What Waller Signifies
Amending Texts
Verbal Dueling
Parody
Conclusion
Plates
[Transcriptions]
Apparatus
Sources
Transcription Method
Notation
General
Editorial
Articulation
Instrumental
Text
Critical Commentary
Appendix: Estey Opus 2370 Pipe Organ
General Description
Specifications
Second-Touch Feature