If a poll were taken of jazz pianists, other instrumentalists, critics, and knowledgeable fans that asked who was the most remarkable jazz musician of all time, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane would be near the top, but I would be willing to wager that Art Tatum would win.
There is really no explanation for the musical genius of Art Tatum (1909-56). Born in Toledo, Ohio and nearly completely blind by the age of four (he could see a little bit in one eye), Tatum was originally self-taught on the piano before attending the classical-oriented Toledo School Of Music. He had his own radio show starting in 1927 and amazed visiting musicians and listeners but was reluctant to move to New York. Finally in 1932 he joined singer Adelaide Hall as one of her two pianists, making his recording debut with her. His first recording session as an unaccompanied pianist (Mar. 21, 1933) resulted in four songs including a rather incredible version of “Tiger Rag.” Years later when pianist Hank Jones first heard the record, he wanted to know who, in addition to Tatum, the other two pianists were.
Art Tatum had technique that topped most classical pianists, and he was always able to improvise lightning-fast runs that must have been made his hands look like a blur when seen live. Beyond the technique, he was so harmonically advanced that, 40 years later, pianists were still trying to f
