Video Clip of Art Tatum

[steveie986]

One of the few pieces of video footage of the legendary jazz pianist, whom Rachmaninov called the greatest pianist he'd ever heard.

[henrah]

Did the Rach-meister really say that? He's pretty darn good, if that's the same piece that got posted but hauled off a while ago.... is it OK now to post it? I was lucky enough to get it the first time round, and have been enjoying it since....dayum those tenths in the bass sound nice :D:D

[steveie986]

It's either Rachmaninov or Toscanini who said it. R and T, along with Horowitz and Rubinstein, were known to haunt the Harlem clubs where Tatum played in the 1940's. I'm watching Ken Burns' documentary series "Jazz" right now. I wonder if we can we discuss jazz music on this forum?

[steveie986]

There are some incredible jazz video clips on youtube. I think the visual element of watching a performance is very important in jazz. Thelonious Monk's bizarre antics at the piano (almost Gouldian in ridiculous awesomeness) is half the fun.

[bearzinthehood]

His economy of motion is astounding.  A fantastic video, thanks for posting it.

[henrah]

I love that grin at the end, it makes him seem really childish and completely puts off my image of the whole video (which was awe and wonder and professionality), but it might look funny just from the poor quality. In any case :D:D eheheeh

[stevie]

i posted this *** clip a while ago and the thread was deleted, theres another vid of tatum i have and its even better, but again, *** deleted

[andyd]

Stevie, could you please post the other Tatum video for those of us who never saw it.


Didn't Rach say he was the greatest pianist 'of any style' he had ever heard.  Can't find the quote anywhere.

There are some other good quotes, true or not, they reflect the mastery of Tatum over the piano and music:
Rachmaninov said that he understood what Tatum played, but was unable to do the same;
Toscanini said that he was the greatest piano player of all times;
When a young student in music, presumably in one of the Harlem clubs, asked Arthur Rubinstein,"What are you doing in such a place?", Rubinstein simply answered "Shhhh, I'm just listening to the greatest musician that ever was".

When Oscar Peterson first heard Tiger Rag, his response was, "Hm. Those guys are pretty good".  Stéphan Grapelli heard the song in France in the year of its release and asked who the "pianists" were; the record dealer told him "Art" and "Tintin".

Buddy DeFranco was one of the few musicians with the virtuosity to truly interplay with Tatum.   When asked what it was like to play with Tatum, Buddy answered with just one word: "Scary."

And Toscanini was once an hour late to his own performance in New York because he was stupefied listening to Tatum in a club.


Andy

[stevie]

id post it if i knew it wouldnt be deleted again, takes a while to upload

[steveie986]

I love that grin at the end, it makes him seem really childish and completely puts off my image of the whole video (which was awe and wonder and professionality), but it might look funny just from the poor quality. In any case :D:D eheheeh

I think that grin says so much. Remember, this was a black man performing in public in the 1940's. And I just think the childishness of that grin reveals that in spite of his superb virtuosity, he had no true independence as an artist in a racist world. Many other black jazz musicians were affected by such "racial" mannerisms (for instance, Louis Armstrong's penchant for sweating excessively and wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, which has become iconic).

[steveie986]

Also, I don't mean to bombard the forum with all these youtube video clips, but this Thelonious Monk clip was also extraordinary. I listened to it six times in one sitting. I find Monk's mannerism half the beauty of the performance:

[prometheus]

I have been looking for an excuse to post this video.

Another 'scary' dead non-classical music virtuoso: Click

[andyd]

Monk must have loved that ring, just as well his style accommodates bling.
Mind his footwork has Tatum licked

Does big brother delete non-classical stuff here?

Andy

[steveie986]

Thelonious Monk is on par with Glenn Gould as my favorite musicians. Both were eccentric to the point of mental illness (especially in later life). Both had incredibly bizarre mannerisms while performing (for instance, elaborate footwork). Both employed highly unorthodox technique. Both didn't like talking to people face to face (Gould conducted only radio interviews in later life and the aged Monk spoke to no one, not even his fellow band members). Both wore outlandish outfits with Gould's beret and Monk's beanie their defining characteristics. Both died in 1982. Both died of stroke.

Another gem, featuring Oscar Peterson:

I hope this thread doesn't get deleted, because I believe we are discussing classical as well as jazz music. Their interaction in 20th century music is a legitimate topic.

[stevie]

Here is a link for your reference:
https://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=17430HVB724LL10BYW3S733J1T

[steveie986]

Thanks. Much appreciated.

[arensky]

Here is a link for your reference:
https://s63.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=17430HVB724LL10BYW3S733J1T

I love you stevie     

 

[stevie]

platonically, i hope 

[arensky]

platonically, i hope 

Yeah 

[m]

Thanks a lot Steveie and Stevie

How about the first clip in .avi or some user friendly format for grabbing on HD?

[mephisto]

https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5834337201029489270&q=art+tatum&pl=true
I belive this is another one that hasn`t been posted.

-da Meph

[demented cow]

While the jazz experts are there: I want to familiarise myself with the great jazz pianists.
I found a good website with a lots of free older jazz recordings:
https://redhotjazz.com/musicians.html
I was wondering whether anybody knows of similar websites with a decent set of free recordings of later people like Tatum, Peterson, Monk, Brubeck etc. From what I've heard I prefer older jazz (esp. Jelly Roll Morton), but maybe that's because I haven't given the later people like Tatum, Peterson, Monk, Brubeck etc. a fair listen.
I could of course go and get best-of cds of these people, but it would cost a lot given that I'd have to get quite a lot of them.
Thanks,
The Cow.