One Night With The Virtuoso - Four Complete Albums ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED SET

Exciting to listen to an artist we were unfamiliar with. Classical/jazz. We are enjoying these CD's

There are few repetitions in this thoughtful assembly of her recordings: a brilliant artist who exuberance snags every audience

This set contains four late 1950s albums, three of which are out-of-print. For some reason the names of her rhythm sections are unknown on most of these albums, and on the one where they are identified, there is some dispute over who played bass.Regardless of the sketchy information, there is nothing sketchy about her playing. Indeed, Art Tatum once said, "she is the only woman who can make me practice". and as you listen to the sound samples on this page you will hear why. While she has her own distinct style, some tracks sound as though they are being played by Erroll Garner, and I had to double check when I first heard her on some of the source albums that comprise this compilation.Here are the source albums for each track, and the scant information that I was able to track down. I would greatly appreciate any comments to this review that will in the blanks.Tracks 1 through 12 are the album titled At The Embers that was recorded live at that famous spot in NYC on March 23, 1957. Donegan is backed by Oscar Pettiford on bass and Charlie Smith on drums. Some accounts cite Bill Pemberton as the bassist and it could well be because there is disagreement. However, to my ears the style is Pettiford. Regardless of who, the entire ensemble is performing at one hundred ten percent on these tracks. With Donegan on the piano they had no choice.Tracks 13 through 24 are the out-of-print album titled Dorothy Donegan Live! This was also recorded at the Embers in NYC. The exact date is unknown as are the names of the bassist and drummer, however it was recorded for Capitol sometime in 1959.Tracks 25 through 37 are the out-of-print album titled Donnybrook with Donegan, another 1959 album that has an unidentified rhythm section.Tracks 38 through 47 are the out-of-print album titled It Happened One Night, which was recorded live at the Roundtable in NYC in 1960 and released by the Roulette label in 1961. Again, the rhythm section is lost to history.

I have collected most of DD's work, but had never heard - or was aware of - these earlier recordings. JUST WONDERFUL! I plan to give copies to friends, for they would be the PERFECT background music to any really sophisticated party.........or, at a lower level of volume, THE perfect music when one has had a hard day and needs THE right music while sipping a glass of wine or, better yet, a glass of champagne! I am SO thankful that people are starting to pull out some of her earlier recordings and are having them re produced. BTW, I used to go to the various venues in San Francisco and the Bay Area whenever she graced us with her presence. I also saw her in Paris with French friends who just adored her. As I have to wear a hat, she always recognized me and, in a patois voice, would say "What you want to hear?".But she was VERY well respected in the classical world as well - she NEVER practiced jazz - just the classics. (She had, after all, trained in Chicago at their School of Music in classical piano). Besides that, she was a very good friend of many great classical artists like Vladimir Horowitz and Alicia de la Rocha. In fact, one night, in SF, I had been invited by some friends to attend a concert at the SF Symphony where Alicia was guest artist. (The mother of my friend was an old friend of Alicia's, so I was invited to join them after the concert). I said to Alicia "I understand that you know Dorthey Donegan". "OH! WHAT an artist! Have you ever heard her start to play a Chopin etude and then suddenly start doing jazz variations on it (I had actually)?Alicia told us that nobody but nobody was like DD. Alicia said that she knew of no one else who could do that.BUT DD did have a dirty mouth on occasion (NOT bad words, but just little asides which were somewhat raunchy! Those did, however, make her VERY successful in the jazz joints on the upper east side in NY). I suppose that is why she never made it big time, which is just as well in many ways. SHE was totally unique. Listening to the radio, were one of her pieces being played, you KNEW it was DD. Whatever, to all who read this posting, ENJOY the music she made...it is wonderful!

Dorothy Donegan was an amazing jazz pianist and vocalist. I had never heard of her until a few weeks ago but she was a woman and isn't that laughable. Well go and purchase this 2 CD offer because you will be very surprised and if you love her voice and piano skills please pass this on to your friends. She was a genius.

great jazz from early era

Boa música; excelente interprete.

a female art tatum