Greatest Hits [RCA] (CD - 1996)

Personnel: Fats Waller (piano).

Liner Note Author: Chick Crumpacker.

Recording information: 03/01/1929-01/23/1943.

Illustrator: Al Hirschfeld.

This best-of includes choice instrumental and vocal performances from the inimitable 20th-century jazz pianist Fats Waller, featuring instrumentals like the full-throttle "Handful of Keys" the virtuoso "Smashing Thirds," and the lyrical "Ring Them Bells," as well as band performances like the raucous "The Joint Is Jumping," an energetic "Lulu's Back in Town," and one of Waller's signature hits, "Ain't Misbehavin'."

Some of pianist-vocalist-composer Fats Waller's "greatest hits" are on this introductory sampler but the packaging could certainly be better. The caricature on the cover shows Waller with a beard, the 14 selections are randomly programmed, some of the recording dates are inaccurate (this version of "Honeysuckle Rose" is from 1937 rather than 1941) and there is no personnel listing, an inexcusable omission in every CD in this well-intentioned but erratic series. There are some classic performances on Waller's CD including "Handful of Keys," the 1937 all-star rendition of "Honeysuckle Rose" (with uncredited appearances by Tommy Dorsey and Bunny Berigan!), "The Joint Is Jumpin'," and "Your Feet's Too Big," making this one of the better entries in this program. ~ Scott Yanow minimize