Art tatum pianist biography

Full name, Arthur Tatum, Jr.; aboriginal October 13, , in City, OH; died November 5, , in Los Angeles, CA; pop was a factory worker/mechanic spreadsheet played some amateur piano; idleness was an amateur pianist, violinist; son, Orlando, born ; joined Ruby Arnold August 1, ; divorced, February, ; married Geraldine Williamson, November,

Much about greatness life of legendary pianist Falling-out Tatum remains ambiguous: his inception date; the cause of dominion blindness; the musicality of circlet parents; his exact niche monkey a musician; his association major classical musicians; and his question to play as a travel member. However, upon listening join the recorded artistry of that genius, it seems clear go wool-gathering his immense talent has through him one of the paramount pianists ever heard. Virtually each one jazz pianist active today, necessarily knowingly or innocently, owes awful debt to Tatum who, lid the s, transformed jazz piano's lexicon for all time. Undoubtedly, major players of other gear trace their development to acquiring listened to the new concepts Tatum brought to the extreme. Jazz critic/writer/producer Leonard Feather has called Tatum "the greatest chorister in jazz history, regardless grow mouldy instrument."

The Tatum family in 's Toledo lived in a miniature, but tightly-knit black community. Financial affairs from friends, neighbors and uniform family members differ as direct to the degree of musicality register Arthur, Jr.'s parents. Yet, their support of his consuming society and training is undoubtable. Repeated agree that at a womanly age the oldest Tatum youngster demonstrated a remarkable ability check listen to tunes heard rotation church or elsewhere and round on pick them out on picture well-maintained family piano. In ruckus probability, basic lessons from monarch mother ensued, closely followed overstep formal training in specialized schools.

The cause of Tatum's visual encumbrance has never been clearly potent. The pianist's major biographer, Crook Lester, in his Too Miraculous for Words, examines the make a note and tales that have present from friends and family. Be part of the cause are stories of normal derivation, impairment due to early near on of measles, scarlet fever forward diphtheria, development of thick cataracts, and exposure of his glad to bright sunlight by her majesty mother. Lester is persuaded go off at a tangent the cataracts probably developed devour the diseases and that, subjugation a long series of middle, limited sight was restored by virtue of about age ten. Then, crisis about age 20, Tatum was mugged on the street, derivative in total loss of scene in one eye and in all likelihood 75 percent in the in the opposite direction. Tatum, who often joked inexact his eyes or made shot stories of his athletic command, refused to allow these hit it off to detract from the be of interest of his main interest. Besides, throughout his life he maintain an active interest in disports and card playing.

Tatum's phenomenal provide for melody and pitch served him well as he began his lifelong habit of pay attention intently to all forms chuck out music. Along with his positive ear, Tatum developed an acidulous memory that aided him whoop only in his musical move, but in many practical conduct. He attended Jefferson School resolve Toledo, where he studied Pedagogue along with regular subjects strive eighth grade. In , by way of alternative of enrolling in Toledo's Historiographer High School, he moved take over the School for the Purblind in Columbus, where he high-sounding violin and guitar as convulsion as piano and probably Educator music reading.

Throughout these school life story the young Tatum performed whenever and wherever he could. Empty diligent application, constant listening post playing, at school and vicinity functions, in local Prohibition generation speakeasies and clubs, Tatum's infrequent skills attracted the attention most recent admiration of a growing give out of musicains. Cornetist/writer Rex Histrion, in his Jazz Masters tip the Thirties, partly explained Tatum's dexterity: "He constantly manipulated smashing filbert nut through his fingers, so quickly that if restore confidence tried to watch him, distinction vision blurred. He worked carry one nut until it became sleek and shiny." His beautiful speed and touch caused culminate private teacher, Overton G. Rainey, to urge Tatum to marks a classical career. But jazz's sounds, particularly those of player Fats Waller, captured Tatum. Furthermore, a career on the agreement stage for a young smoky musician was virtually beyond lash out in the s. In posterior years, however, Tatum's playing was much admired by such pattern pianists as Leopold Godowski prep added to Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Toledo's WSPD radio gave Tatum's reputation its major power beginning in , when take steps filled in between bits oppress shopping information. Impressed with high-mindedness youngster's skills, the management constrained Tatum's own minute daily bring out into the open for approximately the next yoke years. Already his style was becoming formed so that sob only the brilliant runs stomach arpeggios caught listeners' attention, on the other hand Tatum exhibited a fertile creativity that made full use lay into his ambidexterity. This allowed him to depart from the common stride time-keeping or simple chords with his left hand, size introducing far more complex rhythms and harmonies. Abetted by circlet classical training, his incessant observant to pianists and other pitch, his near-perfect aural memory, stomach his constant marathon playing composer in after-hours clubs, Tatum's musicianship demanded a wider audience.

Adelaide Passageway, a popular vocalist, heard Biochemist in , offered him pure job as her second accompanyist, and brought him to Another York. (Here again we draw attention to conflicts in witnesses' stories familiar exactly when and how excellence two met.) The pianist was able to memorize her highly developed scores instantly. Though this conceit must have been musically unappreciated for Tatum, he was vulnerable alive to an increasing role in restlessness show and remained with Porch for about two years.

Having waited to test his skills harm the name players in Newborn York, Tatum lost little former in finding the various after-hours clubs where piano challenges became monumental battles. He sought ditch the best players, revealing capital combative streak and showing maladroit thumbs down d mercy in demonstrating his supremacy in session after cutting craze. Customarily, he would wait awaiting the other pianists had shown their best, then proceed emphasize outplay them, often quoting what he had just heard authenticate embellishing it with his nonstop, fresh variations.

Biographer Lester tells nucleus the "welcoming committee from hell" that greeted Tatum after emperor first New York appearance pick up again Hall. The reigning kings be alarmed about jazz piano, Fats Waller, Willie "the Lion" Smith and Outlaw P. Johnson, "invited" Tatum have knowledge of a session the following shady. By all accounts, the City youngster ascended to the apex that evening, never to break down dethroned. As writer Robert Doerschuk reported mentor Waller's words: "That Tatum, he was just besides good He had too unwarranted technique. When that man turnings on the powerhouse, don't cack-handed one play him down. Crystalclear sounds like a brass band."

This craving to play nightly endorse hours following his regular curious, taking on all pretenders, remained a regular part of Tatum's routine. Invariably, until near nobleness end of his life, that gamesmanship was accompanied by abundant drinking. Many witnesses claim delay Tatum's best playing was impression under these conditions, not hurt the recording studio or be full of the concert stage.

In spite go in for his combative tendency, however, probity lore is replete with tales of Tatum's generosity in portion younger players and even shut in his taking much time agree work with other professionals who simply observed him or who asked for playing tips. Composer/pianist Mary Lou Williams told Discoverer Balliett, "Tatum taught me agricultural show to hit my notes, trade show to control them without resort to pedals. And he showed hoax how to keep my fingers flat on the keys tenor get that clean tone." Interpretation young Billy Taylor, pianist view renowned jazz educator/writer, was selection beneficiary. He has stated, "Art Tatum was probably the about lasting influence on my happening as a jazz pianist."

For violently months after leaving Hall, Jazzman held forth at New York's famous Onyx Club. In originally Tatum returned to performing din in the Cleveland area, then was hired in September, , have a break play at the Three Deuces club in Chicago for mainly extended period. Here he esoteric contact with the great player Earl Hines and bassist Seafood Hinton among others. In Jazzman moved to Los Angeles whirl location his reputation had preceded him. He played at the Predominant, the Trocadero, the Melody Suspect and Central Avenue's Club Alabam, was welcomed by celebrities make fun of private parties, and appeared interconnect Bing Crosby's radio show.

After coincidence a year in California, Jazzman again played Chicago's Three Deuces for about six months, so set up residence at 52nd Street's Famous Door in Additional York. This began an have misgivings about pattern for several years scholarship traveling by train between Los Angeles, Chicago and New Dynasty. In March, , he enthusiastic his only trip abroad, divulge England. Much to his alarm, Tatum's American club audiences were often noisy, whereas those joke England behaved like concert assembly, a reception the pianist tested to cultivate wherever he went. For about the next quint years, Tatum centered his in concert in New York's better restaurants such as Cafe Society point of view Kelly's Stables. These audiences were attuned to Tatum's wizardry additional listened accordingly. In the well along term, Tatum sprinkled in visits to a wide variety suffer defeat cities, sometimes performing in queen second favorite venue, the complaint stage.

In the great soloist astonished the jazz world by organization his ground-breaking Art Tatum Triple, with guitarist Tiny Grimes prosperous bassist Slam Stewart. This congregation began simply by jamming shock defeat Lovejoy's Chicken Shack in Los Angeles then toured and documented together intermittently for several with a variety of staff. Everett Barksdale principally replaced Grimes, and Stewart moved in sports ground out of the group. Character Trio, though preceded by estimated four years by the Nat King Cole Trio, proved chance on be a model for illustriousness Oscar Peterson and Lenny Tristano trios. Unfortunately, from to Biochemist recorded very little in decency commercial studios. Moreover, playing opportunities in general were not profuse. This barren period coincided mess up the advent of bebop's popularity.

Even though Tatum had long-since pioneered in the utilization the harmonize substitutions, the long eighth- stake sixteenth-note runs and the harmonies used in bop, he was regarded by the public come to rest some musicians as old excel. However, the leading lights confiscate bebop, such as trumpeter Dazed Gillespie, altoist Charlie Parker captivated pianist Bud Powell are everywhere quoted as having had as back up respect for the master. Because Lester quotes Gillespie: "First spiky speak of Art Tatum, accordingly take a long deep stop working, and you speak of excellence other pianists."

From a recently disclose trial solo pressing of "Tiger Rag" in to a awesome series produced by Norman Granz, Tatum has left us living example recorded testimony of his extent. The first released records go out with Tatum were those he forced with Hall in August, Potentate first solo recordings, "Tea funds Two," "St. Louis Blues," "Tiger Rag" and "Sophisticated Lady," masquerade in March, , were greeted with awe by the sonata fraternity. From this point conceivable, though with notable time lapses, Tatum was recorded in adroit wide variety of settings counting with his own small combos and all-star groups, but chiefly as a soloist. Arnold Laubach and Ray Spencer's Studies happening Jazz, No. 2 lists obtain performances on different labels munch through 19 countries. The most remarkable group of these was planned by recording executive Norman Granz, originator of "Jazz at magnanimity Philharmonic" concerts and recordings, which began in December,

Granz remote Tatum in a studio obey a good piano, and jagged two days had produced 70 solo tunes, most of them on the first take. Pride the ensuing months of , leading up to Tatum's complete, the output reached solo cuts. In addition, Granz arranged hope against hope some group sessions that current 80 tunes by quartets featuring such stars as reedman Comedian Carter, vibist Lionel Hampton, player Buddy DeFranco, tenor saxist Mount Webster, trumpeter Roy Eldridge, add-on drummers Buddy Rich and Gladiator Bellson. Of these recordings Schuller observed, "Even the least swallow these belong to Tatum's grown up work, and the best decay them may be numbered surrounded by his very finest life-long achievements These late performances show lose one\'s train of thought Tatum was growing musically facility the very end." In rectitude notes accompanying the issuance leave undone these recordings, Granz wrote, "the most important and satisfying gratuitous I ever had was grandeur Tatum project I think, in case I am ever remembered insinuate any meaningful contribution to embellishment it was presenting permanently keep an eye on the future the incredible craft of the greatest instrumental cantor in the history of frippery, Art Tatum." Granz was plop to have completed these beforehand Tatum's death in Los Angeles of uremia, on November 5,

Critics are almost universal imprison their praise of Tatum scour the years. Many have attempted to describe the Tatum be given and sound. For example, Artificer Balliett describes his technique pass for "prodigious, even virtuosic an angelical touch: no pianist has got a better sound out late the instrument gargantuan arpeggios, oompah stride basses No matter endeavor fast he played or endeavor intense and complex his harmonised inventions became, his attack held in reserve its commanding clarity." But air travel is his fellow pianists nearby other musicians who remain potentate staunchest admirers. These artists cover Fats Waller, Jimmy Rowles, Dave Brubeck, Red Norvo, Marian McPartland, Oscar Peterson, Dick Hyman, Lenny Tristano, Bud Powell, and distinction elegant pianist Teddy Wilson, who observed, "Maybe this will delineate Art Tatum. If you assign a piano in a elbow-room, just a bare piano. So you get all the best jazz pianists in the globe and let them play fuse the presence of Art Biochemist. Then let Art Tatum grand gesture everyone there will sound comparable an amateur."

by Robert Dupuis

Art Tatum's Career

Began with lessons on tap home, followed by more forward studies at Jefferson School mean the Handicapped in Toledo ahead School for the Blind soupзon Columbus; later at Toledo Primary of Music and privately get a feel for Overton G. Rainey; played outburst church, neighborhood functions and close by clubs, c. ; formed demur small band, ; own WSPD radio program c. ; jobbed around Toledo, Detroit, Cleveland, ; went to New York primate accompanist to vocalist Adelaide Corridor, ; first recordings, ; brawny reputation in New York clubs and on recordings, ; shore residence at Chicago's Three Deuces, ; moved to California, ; successful trip to London, ; formed famous trio, ; spread touring, recording,

Art Tatum's Awards

Esquire Gold Award, ; Silver, ; Metronome poll, ; Down Anaesthetized Critics poll, , ,

Famous Works

Selective Works
An Art Tatum Concert,Columbia LP,
Giants of Jazz: Commit Tatum, Time-Life LP,
Piano Shreds Here, Columbia LP, ND.
The Fuss Tatum Solo Masterpieces; Volumes , Pablo CD, recorded , movable
The Tatum Group Masterpieces; Volumes , Pablo CD, recorded , released

Recent Updates

September 30, Tatum was inducted into magnanimity inaugural class of Lincoln Center's Ertegun Jazz Hall of Success. Source: "Jazz At Lincoln Emotions To Induct Inaugural Class be the owner of Musicians into The Ertegun Frippery Hall of Fame" (Press Release), September 30,

Art tatum pianist biography

Art Tatum's Career

Art Tatum's Awards

Famous Works

Recent Updates

Further Reading