Originally released in 1973, God Is in the House features live performances from the
Jerry Newman collection of acetate discs and are fortunately in better technical quality than most of the music from
Newman's archives. The remarkable
Art Tatum is heard playing three brief, unaccompanied piano solos in 1940, three other numbers in which he is accompanied by Reuben Harris (beating out some quiet rhythms with whiskbrooms on a suitcase), and four duets with bassist-vocalist
Chocolate Williams;
Tatum has a brief vocal on "Knockin' Myself Out" and a more extensive one on "Toledo Blues," the only times he ever sang on record. In addition,
Tatum and
Williams back Ollie Potter (a pretty good if completely unknown singer) on "There'll Be Some Changes Made." Best of all are a pair of exciting trio numbers ("Lady Be Good" and a very memorable "Sweet Georgia Brown") in which
Tatum stretches out with bassist Ebenezer Paul and the great, underrated trumpeter
Frankie Newton. It is fascinating to hear
Newton's playing on "Sweet Georgia Brown," which is fairly simple and calm, while
Tatum sounds like a volcano behind him. Highly recommended.