Greatest 20th Century Piano Genius?

[Allan]

As a classically trained pianist and organist to me it is, hands down, jazz pianist Art Tatum.  I never cease to be amazed at the intelligence and musical giftedness of this  man.  He could think in such complex harmonic patterns and rattle it off with a speed and clarity in his fingers that even the great Horowitz and Cziffra could not quite match.  He his so uncanny that initial listenings do not even do him justice.  I dare any pianist on this forum to purchase Tatum's transcription book, "Art Tatum Collection," (published by Hal Leonard, available at Amazon), and try to master his "St. Louis Blues" and, especially, "Tiger Rag" at the tempos employed by Tatum.  Lisztians beware---this will challenge your technical abilities to the max!!  Noted classical musicians, like Horowitz, were amazed at Tatum's ability.

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"I can play as fast as you, but I can't keep up with you."  [V. Horowitz to Art Tatum]

[cziffra]

Hear hear!  God is in the house, my friends

[jmanpno]

This did not draw the sort of attention I would have thought!

Thoughts, comments? I'm curious.... Art Tatum, really?

[sevencircles]

Tatum did only record extremely few classical pieces. You can´t really compare classical pianists like Horowitz or Cziffra to Tatum. Cziffra was a great improviser but hardly as good as the greatest jazz pianists when it comes to playing jazzimprovisations.

Gulda is the only pianist I can think of right now that was amazing both when he played  Jazz and classical music.