Search - Dodo Marmarosa :: Pittsburgh 1958

Unsung Hero of Jazz

Kevin Gallaugher | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dodo Marmarosa may not be anything like a household name, but these recordings prove beyond doubt that he was a brilliant practitioner of jazz music. The bulk of the CD is a trio recording of Dodo at his regular gig at that time. Although never intended for commercial release, the fidelity is perfectly acceptable. A superb performance of a mixture of originals and standards. Very striking to me is that when a song ends, it sounds as if there couldn't have been more than 15 people present in the club. Oh, what I'd give to have been among them. All I can say is, there were a lot of Pittsburgh citizens missing out on something special one particular night in 1958. The rest of the CD is various television studio recordings of an expanded lineup with horn players. Well played, and endlessly fascinating. I listen to this CD practically every day."

A great CD

Mike | Alexandria, VA | 11/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The sound quality isn't great (most tracks recorded on a home tape recorder), but the music is brilliant. It saddens me to think what this guy could have been. I've already listened to this CD twice today. The music is absolutely inspired."

Dodo Lives!

Mike | 09/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dodo has always been one of my favorite bebop pianists. Maybe he doesn't have the quite the virtuosity of Bud Powell but to my ears he's got more soul, swing and warmth. Maybe its blasphemy, but I have to say that Dodo often MOVES me while Bud only impresses me.These previously unreleased sides prove that he retained his fire and continued to evolve well into the 50's. Unlike the tepid "Jug & Dodo" session from 1962, Dodo burns on this 1958 CD! He plays with the relaxed assurance of a man with nothing to prove except that he was right in the thick of it when the best in bop was being born a decade earlier and he deserves much more than a mere footnote in the bebop pantheon. He plays the bebop standards with a confident brilliance while slipping in a few new modulations that prove he's not stuck in the 40's.Standout tunes include "Moose the Mooche" and "Billie's Bounce" from an intimate nightclub date where there was a tape recorder under his piano, and "Horoscope" a 6/4 (!) time aircheck from a Pittsburgh TV show. The nightclub set alone is worth the price of admission. This CD proves that reports of the Dodo's extinction were greatly exaggerated!"