Thomas "Fats" Waller : The Great Solos, 1929-1937

Those guys who gave this one star don't know much about Fats, that or they are being too picky with small errors. In that case, yes there may be a few small errors and this book might not be 100% accurate note for note what Fats played on these songs, but the transcriptions are still very professional and reflect the style and are pretty close to what Fats actually played. Songs like Ain't Misbehavin', Alligator Crawl, and Handful of Keys, are essential to any Waller and stride pianist. Waller's style is quite tricky to master and of course, some of the inversions between notes is just too wide to reach for normal sized hands like myself, so of course, improvising is needed for these. Of course, once you do get Fats' rhythm and style down, it won't be hard to impress your friends and audiences when you are at a piano, because everything Fats played was professional and had lots of harmony, with a very upbeat bass line. In the end, for only $10 or so dollars this book is worth it, the transcriptions are very good and mimic Waller's songs accurately. Fats music is timeless for any pianist and fun to play once you can get it down.

I'm an advanced player, background in classical piano. Past couple of years have been loving stride piano.This book is one of my favorites. Mind you, the selections require hard work. If you are an intermediate-levelpianist, this is too difficult. I started with Viper Drag around Halloween. It's a great one and all ofFats' works allow for lots of interpretation, esp.Viper. I have a fuzzy memory of an old video featuring a viperslinking around and then in middle section he meets a lady-friend-viper & they strut together. Programatic piece, it is. Yes, there are some editorial mishaps around which one can "cover". Break the left hand 10th or & do what you have to do to play and enjoy these. Fats wouldn't mind. I've checked variousrecordings of Fats playing some of these pieces and he never played them the same twice. The player just has to pick a tempo s/he can manage. This book will be very much enjoyed & played by a stride player. Gaar-on-tee!

This is an excellent resource. I commend Dr. Posnak for undertaking such an Herculean errand. Someone had to do it. These are extremely accurate so far. I've only attempted Honeysuckle Rose and Ain't Misbehavin'. I would imagine that these studies should be time- consuming for the majority of players. However, I am finding the process to be most rewarding. You can purchase a recording of these exact transcriptions performed by Dr. Posnak, which is very helpful even if you already have the originals. Waller: 16 Great Piano Solos, 1929-1941, Transcribed By Paul Posnak

Good transcriptions -- I've learned a lot of tricks trying to play them... a CD by the transcriber is also available which facilitates understanding the music before struggling to play it

I have just finished playing through the whole book. Although the solos are technically challenging (at least for me), they still sound good when played at a slower tempo. After analyzing these songs, one can then apply Waller's concepts and trademarks to other jazz standards.

The book is complex but worth the labor. You'll sure be figuring out the fingering if you have small hands that can't reach a tenth like myself. This book is stride jazz piano at heart. Posnak did us a great deed and favor bringing back Fats through written sheet music to us. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn Harlem Stride Hot Piano. It is going to take a great learning curb to learn these TIMELESS SOLOS!

Simply put - this book is a monumental endeavor and no less of a tribute to "Fats". After long hours on end trying to pick out these fabulous solos myself with my all-too-imperfect musical ear, this work is a dream come true. If only more musicians of this calibre would pick up the torch as well and transcribe other solos for "Fats" (unfortunately, his marvelous rendition of "Tea for Two" is not included here), as well as other pianists (Art Tatum, for one)! The accuracy in transcription here is astonishing. Two copies are recommended, because you will be wearing the first copy out in no time!

Good

I have a few midi files of Fats Waller playing some famous pieces and this book is an exact transcription of those - note for note. what a task Mr Posnak undertook and I'm glad he did. Shows what an artist Mr Waller was and how bad a player I am - he must have had some extra fingers...Well worth buying but get it wire bound so you can turn pages and they will lay flat. (Why don't publishers do this a whole lot more?)P

Bitterly disappointed. Described as transcription of Fats Waller numbers. First one of interest was "Ain't Misbhavin'" . Waller in Eb and so-called transcription in the key of C. No one plays it in "C". Had same issue with Buddy Holly book. Everything in keys different from those that Holly played and sang in. Also, book not spirally bound so won't stay open on piano withjout breaking the spine. Not happy. Can't copy and paste image. Needs to be imported from own computer files. I have found a version on Spotify in the key of "C" but I've played in a number of jazz bands and always in Eb. A transcription not designed for the ordianry man.

Contained all the pieces I wanted and presented well except that it is yet another sheet music collection that will not stay open on the piano. Please make all sheet music books over a certain thickness spiral bound.

Ca faisait longtemps que je cherchais ces partitions de Fats Waller, écrites d'une façon proche de l'original, et je l'ai enfin

nochmal kaufen. da die Arrangements zwar klaviertechnisch durchaus anspruchsvoll sind aber mit dem was ich von Aufnahmen von Waller einfach nicht an deren Eleganz herankommen