Dodo Marmarosa - The Chronological Classics: 1945-1950 '2001

Tracks list

Michael Dodo Marmarosa was a marvelous, flexible pianist. He could cook
passionately in the middle of a steaming hot band or ease into an ethereal mood
with hardly anybody else in the room. Classically trained, Dodo hung out with
young Erroll Garner when they were still figuring themselves out back home in
Pittsburgh. He made great records with Artie Shaw, Slim Gaillard, Lester Young,
Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, and Howard McGhee. What you have here is a
chronological grab bag of recordings from Dodos most promising years. The Barney
Kessel All-Stars session, resulting in four sides issued on the Atomic label in
1945, is an exciting discovery, notable for the reeds and vibes of Herbie
Steward and Johnny White. Seven months later, the pianist led a pared-down group
in concocting another four recordings for Atomic. Dodo has said that he composed
Mellow Mood when he was only 14 years old. This version, waxed when he was all
of 20, exudes a calm sophistication. Dodos Blues is honest and cool, with nice
brushwork from Jackie Mills. How High the Moon bristles with hot percussion and
a wild tenor sax solo by Lucky Thompson. The flip side is a ballad to end all
ballads. If you didnt know it was Lucky pouring Alfredo sauce over I Surrender
Dear, youd think it was Coleman Hawkins himself. The tenth and last side issued
by Atomic offers a rare example of Dodo Marmarosa the vocalist. Its worth having
as a tasty curiosity, as are two sides cut about a year later with Dodo backing
Miss Dana, a singer who really belts out Fats Wallers Black and Blue. The
definitive Dodo is heard on five trio sides recorded for the Dial label in Los
Angeles on December 3, 1947. Bopmatism has a slightly manic quality that will
stay with you long after the piece has ended. Dodos Dance is a giddy,
high-velocity workout. Trade Winds delivers a much cooler mood, bringing to mind
the very beat legend that Dodo once painted the inside of his bathtub green so
his bath water would more closely resemble a tropical ocean. Dodos meditative
side is beautifully languid and precious as true love and peace of mind. Dary
Departs, a simple study in relaxed 4/4, is one of his greatest achievements.
Cosmo Street turns out to be nothing more than a friendly version of Rodgers &
Harts Lover. The disc ends with four Savoy sides made back home in Pittsburgh
during the summer of 1950. Anyone familiar with Marmarosas discography will be
puzzled by the gaps in this picture. Dodos unaccompanied Tone Paintings of 1947
definitely belong in the chronology along with Deep Purple and Tea for Two, fine
solos from early 1946. Although other volumes in the Classics series offer
plenty of initially rejected material, we are told that this volume contains
only those tracks that were actually issued at the time. As for ten additional
sides made in collaboration with Barney Kessel and six more with Lucky Thompson,
it would be logical to expect them to appear on the Classics label under those
artists names. An excellent survey of Marmarosas recorded works from 1946 and
1947 was issued in 1991 by Fresh Sound [FSCD-1019], bearing the title Dodos
Bounce.


Tracks:

01. Atom Buster (2:49)
02. What Is This Thing Called Love (2:49)
03. Slick Chick (2:37)
04. The Man I Love (3:15)
05. Mellow Mood (3:15)
06. How High the Moon (2:54)
07. Dodos Blues (3:14)
08. I Surrender, Dear (2:20)
09. Raindrops (2:49)
10. Ive Got News for You (3:00)
11. Black and Blue (3:02)
12. Remember I Knew You When (2:52)
13. Bopmatism (3:11)
14. Dodos Dance (3:08)
15. Trade Winds (3:12)
16. Dary Departs (2:47)
17. Cosmo Street (3:30)
18. My Foolish Heart (2:38)
19. Blue Room (3:07)
20. Why Was I Born (3:15)
21. The Night Was Young (2:48)

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