This is a long-forgotten but very worthy
Fats Waller tribute performed by a septet led and arranged by pianist
Dick Wellstood. With
Zoot Sims on tenor, both Ed Polcer and John Bucher playing cornets, guitarist
Al Casey (who was a regular member of
Waller's bands 35 years earlier), bassist
Major Holley, drummer Panama Francis,
Wellstood and the seemingly ageless singer Jane Harvey, this is a particularly rewarding session. The group performs ten songs associated with
Waller including "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." The ensembles resembles one of
Waller's bands,
Wellstood had long assimilated
Fats' musical language into his own distinctive style and Jane Harvey sounds wonderful. Well worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow