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andrew983 28-Sep-16, 01:08	Gems From Art Tatum Art Tatum died 60 years ago, but he's still regarded by many as the greatest pianist who ever lived. Enjoy "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" by this musical genius. youtu.be
andrew983 28-Sep-16, 13:07	So Who Was Art Tatum? Good documentary on the (arguably) greatest pianist who ever lived: youtu.be Includes biographical information, tributes from jazz musicians *and* classical musicians. Not included (may have been too late) was the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia's love for Art Tatum's virtuosity, as recorded in an interview with "Frets" magazine in the 1980s. Why wasn't/isn't Tatum better known? Because appreciating his music requires "active listening" (as John Wilson, a jazz critic at The New York Times noted) as well as familiarity with the melody of the song Tatum is playing (this familiarity serves as an anchor for the listener when Tatum begins his beautiful and imaginative improvising.) I once frequented a club that featured a jazz trio. During one of their breaks, I asked the pianist if he knew Art Tatum. After enthusiastically speaking of Tatum in superlatives, the trio pianist asked me to sit in for a number. When I told him I didn't play the piano, he didn't believe me and insisted I sit in, apparently not believing a non-musician had heard of Tatum, let alone greatly appreciated his playing. Musicians are Tatum's biggest fans because they know what he's doing. But a non-musician, if he's willing to "actively listen" to Tatum (and especially if he's familiar with the melody) can appreciate and fall in love with his genius as well.
andrew983 09-Oct-16, 17:02	Art Tatum Birthday Approaching! Thursday (Oct. 13) is Art Tatum's birthday! What's that mean? To celebrate the birthday of the world's greatest pianist, who passed in 1956 at the age of 47, I'll be posting selected tributes to the King of the Keyboard as well as my top 5 renditions by Tatum (based on 35 years' worth of listening.) Will be hard to whittle his numerous masterpieces down to just 5, so I may go higher. In the meantime, stock your fridge with Pabst Blue Ribbon (Art's favorite beer,) down a few cold ones and lose yourself in the wondrous music of the world's greatest pianist on Thursday, what would have been his 107th birthday.
andrew983 11-Oct-16, 00:38	Top Five Tracks Part One Title: You're Blasé Recorded: Mid 1950s From: The Tatum Solo Masterpieces Volume 6 It helps (a lot) to know the melody ahead of time. Didn't really come to appreciate the beauty of this track until I'd heard it more than a few times. Particularly beautiful sections are from 2:45 to 3:00 and from 3:51 to 4:01. youtu.be "Listening to Tatum must be undertaken as an active role, not a passive one, otherwise the man is not really being heard. It is the passive listener, the listener who doesn't hear beyond the surface, who is apt to become annoyed with Tatum's repetitious use of runs. Given the time, as he is in this series of disks, Tatum can woo a willing listener step by step from surface sounds down into the heart of his kaleidescopic imagination and hold him there enthralled." John S. Wilson Jazz critic, The New York Times
andrew983 11-Oct-16, 01:08	Top Five Tracks Part Two Title: Why Was I Born Recorded: 1943 From: The Standard Transcriptions Audio on this track isn't great (kind of scratchy) but Tatum's genius still shines through. Contemplative and melancholy interpretation of a little-known song, but one with a melody that's easy to comprehend and like on a first listen. Particularly lovely section is the "call and response" contained within 1:51 to 2:11. youtu.be "First you speak of Art Tatum, then take a long deep breath, and you speak of the other pianists." Dizzy Gillespie Renowned jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer and singer
andrew983 11-Oct-16, 02:25	Top Five Tracks Part Three Title: Deep Purple Recorded: Mid 1950s From: The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Volume Five Musicians: Art Tatum, Piano Lionel Hampton, Vibes Harry Edison, Trumpet Barney Kessel, Guitar Red Callender, Bass Buddy Rich, Drums This track really reveals Tatum's skill as an accompanist, particularly to Harry Edison at the end of the track but also to Lionel Hampton at the beginning of the track (after a beautiful introduction by Tatum.) Probably my favorite recording from the Tatum Group Masterpieces, though "Street of Dreams" with saxophonist Benny Carter, and "You're Mine You" with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco are close seconds. The piano solo on this track is phenomenal but I like Tatum's accompanist work even more, particularly the beautifully appropriate run from 0:32 to 0:34. Helps to know the melody ahead of time, though it's pretty easy to grasp from Hampton's playing of it after the introduction by Tatum (and Tatum's accompanist work off Hampton's statement of the main theme is extraordinary.) youtu.be "Art Tatum is my all-time favorite. Yeah, he's my all-time favorite. He's the guy I put on when I want to feel really small. When I want to feel really insignificant. He's a good guy to play for any musician, you know. He'll make them want to go home and burn their instruments. Art Tatum is absolutely the most incredible musician – what can you say?" Jerry Garcia Founder and guitarist of the Grateful Dead, legendary rock band most prominent in the 1970s but active from 1965 to 1995.
andrew983 11-Oct-16, 19:40	Top Five Tracks Part Four Title: I Cover the Waterfront Recorded: Mid 1950s From: 20th Century Piano Genius Wonderful rendition of a jazz standard Tatum recorded many times throughout his illustrious career. This recording was among the last Tatum made and was apparently recorded without his knowledge. The venue was a private party in Hollywood, California. Tatum was said to have played even more remarkably when he was "off the clock" and playing only for the sheer enjoyment of it. A debt of gratitude is owed to Ray Heindorf, host of the private party, for securing this gem for posterity. After a minute-long introduction, which represents a straightforward presentation of the melody, Tatum's captivating improvising takes over - extensive runs and counter-runs undergirded by a gentle and hypnotic swing. The listener can easily fall in love with the melody of this song and how Tatum improvises off it. Truly spectacular. youtu.be "I don't think there's any more chance of another Tatum turning up than another Mozart." Dave Brubeck Jazz pianist and composer
andrew983 11-Oct-16, 20:27	Top Five Tracks Part Five Title: Without A Song Recorded: Mid 1950s From: The Tatum Solo Masterpieces Volume 4 Profoundly soulful rendition of a melancholy jazz standard. One of the longer tracks on the Tatum Solo Masterpieces' recordings, but time recedes in significance under the spell created by this rendition. Favorite parts of this track are from 1:06 to 1:08, a beautifully constructed transition, and from 4:30 to 4:32, where Art appears to lose the thread of the song (of course, he doesn't because it fits in beautifully within the whole.) This is probably the most contemplative and soulful of all of Tatum's recordings and proves Tatum was not just a technical virtuoso on the piano, but could play with great emotion and feeling as well. Both this song and "Why Was I Born" convey the mood of a raw and drizzling autumn day. youtu.be "Maybe this will explain Art Tatum. If you put a piano in a room, just a bare piano. Then you get all the finest jazz pianists in the world and let them play in the presence of Art Tatum. Then let Art Tatum play ... everyone there will sound like an amateur." Teddy Wilson Jazz pianist
andrew983 11-Oct-16, 21:15	Top Tracks Part Six Title: When Your Lover Has Gone Recorded: Mid 1950s From: The Tatum Solo Masterpieces Volume 3 Tatum's ability to create an irresistible swing and his proficiency in stride piano are in wonderful evidence on this lesser-known jazz standard. It can be easy to forget that nearly all the songs Tatum played have lyrics too, and it's helpful to know the opening stanza of lyrics to this song because Tatum initially adheres so closely to the written melody (and also because the lyrics are quite great.) "When you're alone, who cares for starlit skies When you're alone, the magic moonlight dies At break of dawn, there is no sunrise When your lover has gone" Favorite parts: The interplay between Tatum's hands from 1:24 to 1:41. The out-of-step rhythmic progression from 3:12 to 3:14. Norman Granz, the producer of both the Tatum Solo Masterpieces and Tatum Group Masterpieces, once confessed that the tape ran out during one of Tatum's recordings for the Solo Masterpieces. Granz said he debated at the time whether to tell Tatum or simply scrap the recording of that particular song. Granz decided to 'fess up, and Tatum was amused and said he'd pick up playing where the tape ran out and finish the recording. While Granz refused to identify the track in question, my guess is it's this one and that the tape ran out at or around the 3:12 mark. The out-of-step rhythmic progression that occurs from 3:12 to 3:14 doesn't seem purposeful but more the result of trying to fix a break in the recording. Nevertheless, it gets the attention of the "active listener" (to borrow John S. Wilson's phrase) and creates an unexpected impression in a rendition that, up to then, had been flowing like water. youtu.be "If you speak of pianists, the most complete pianist that we have known and possibly will know, from what I've heard to date, is Art Tatum." Oscar Peterson Jazz pianist who was heavily influenced by Tatum
andrew983 12-Oct-16, 13:27	Top Tracks Part Seven Title: I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues Recorded: 1949 From: The Complete Capitol Recordings of Art Tatum Slow and contemplative rendition of a great jazz standard. Tatum plays with great feeling on this track, and the subdued mood is beautifully broken by long arpeggios, like a ray of sunlight breaking through an overcast sky. Hard to pick a favorite section on this track, but the playing from 1:20 to the end is especially superb as a whole. youtu.be "Tatum's quick reflexes and boundless imagination kept his improvisations filled with fresh (and sometimes futuristic) ideas that put him way ahead of his contemporaries." Scott Yanow Jazz critic
andrew983 12-Oct-16, 19:27	The Great One Speaks! Best to conclude with a very short radio interview featuring the great Art Tatum. Rest In Peace, Art. Your music lives forever. youtu.be

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