Art Tatum

[idiopathic]

Some people for example Galileo,  are on a completely different wavelength compared to ordinary man..
Anyway, I first heard of Art Tatum  in that Ray Charles movie..
His nickname is God.. {I think God may express himself in only a chosen few}
Valadmir Horowitz said "if Tatum ever took up classical music seriously he would have to quite the next day".
His brilliance with melody was acknowledged by other classical pianist..
Take into consideration blind in one eye cataract in the other, he died young..
Definitely the greatest jazz pianist of all time. And to me arguably the greatest pianist of all time..[I thought I loved J.S. Bach, Chopin "poet of the piano" covers all human emotions and I know Franz List is overall considered a GREAT pianist]
Another thing the guy is mostly self taught!
I think he is underrated.. i did not know of him when my mother gave me lessions....
Geez--The guy plays a simple song like  "over the rainbow" or "tenderly"..Its like the "Art Tatum" version is  from a completely different solar system. Maintaining the melody and rhythm with "nasty", ecleciastically relaxing, high velocity, unique improvised runs!! {Remember jazz is unique to the U.S.}
They said it was like 2 guys playing the piano!
He could play in a group but preferred going solo.
The thing is Mozart, Beethoven and those other composers would have ther mouth open in amazement listening to this guy!..

I should have tried to copy half of his arrangements..

[thalbergmad]

I think he is underrated..

Not on here he isn't.

Thal

[franz_]

He is great, it's true. Although I prefer Oscar Peterson

[mikebechstein]

This may seem pointless and/or meaningless, (and of course it is just my opinion), but I think that Oscar Peterson was the greatest jazz pianist whereas Art Tatum was the greatest jazz musician at the keyboard. Not very well put, I know, but I hope you get my meaning.

[conforza]

Not on here he isn't.

Thal

why so closed-minded?

[thalbergmad]

Did not realise i was

[webern78]

Anyway, I first heard of Art Tatum  in that Ray Charles movie..

Funny, that's how i discovered him as well. The whole film was a snooze, formulaic and pretentious to an inane degree, and it did absolutely nothing to make me understand why Charles is such a renowned musician, but as soon as they play Tatum, the whole 5 seconds of it, i literally jolted out of my couch. I had to find out who that was. Rarely has a musician made such a deep impression after only a few seconds of exposure.

[rene_ceballos]

Tatum was actually the icon of the Stride, a genre which is probably set the basis for Jazz piano as we know it today. Peterson is often compared with him, but I believe the similarities live in the arranging style and fast melodic lines. I do not think they are underrated, well except for those who don't really understand Jazz.

I myself prefer a less virtuosic approach but with more complex harmonies. Namely Bill Evans . Yet, still treasure all those Tatum vinyls.

[ahinton]

Tatum was actually the icon of the Stride, a genre which is probably set the basis for Jazz piano as we know it today. Peterson is often compared with him, but I believe the similarities live in the arranging style and fast melodic lines. I do not think they are underrated, well except for those who don't really understand Jazz.

I myself prefer a less virtuosic approach but with more complex harmonies. Namely Bill Evans . Yet, still treasure all those Tatum vinyls.

Three major names in the field of jazz piano in the mid 20th century, without any shadow of doubt. Peterson is often thought of as far more cultivated and less spontaneous than Tatum, but I have never had the impression that his best work - often considerably more noteful than Tatum's - is ever a mere contrivance founded upon a quicksilver imagination alone and geared simply to display how quickly and brilliantly he can thnk at the piano.

Best,

Alistair

[argerichfan]

Fats Waller not mentioned yet?  With due -and deserved respect to Tatum and Peterson- Waller is my favourite. 

Tatum certainly had his admirers -Rachmaninov and Godowsky- but did any of them hear Fats?  IMO, there's something about Fats that I have always preferred to Tatum.