Art Tatum was described by other jazz greats as “terrifying”. He was largely self-taught. He was functionally blind, so he played entirely by feel. Greats like Oscar Peterson later said that he had made them consider giving up playing. Vladimir Horowitz felt himself to be an amateur next to Tatum (more on them below). Tatum’s recordings show he was far more than a technical wizard—he captured beauty, whimsy, grandeur and pathos, sometimes all in one piece. He only briefly flirted with ensemble playing; he was successful at it, but he was happiest playing alone, which he often did for hours after his official gigs.
Classic: Tiger Rag
Here is a later recording of one of Tatum’s popular standards. It’s a cover of an old Ragtime piece that reflects his early influences in stride piano and New Orleans jazz. It was written for a whole brass and woodwind band. Playing solo piano, he takes the original concept and transforms it into something rich and complex, while still bright and upbeat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaPeks0H3_s
We’re not in Kansas any more
One of my favorite Art Tatum recordings, a 1953 improvisation on Over the Rainbow, from the Wizard of Oz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KnptwcrbcA
Riffs and hooks in Classical music
What do you get when you pair one of the most lyrical Romantic-era composers with the greatest improvisational pianist alive? First, check out the original “Humoresque” by Dvořák, published in 1894. You’ll hear little themes that sound familiar and make you want to listen to more—today they would be referred to as “riffs” and “hooks”. They sound familiar because they have been constantly reused in a lot of popular music, right up to the present day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmAZoexenx8
Here is Art's take on Dvořák’s Humoresque:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYcZGPLAnHA
Tea for Two
The legendary classical pianist Vladimir
Horowitz was interested in jazz and improvisation, and wrote a series of variations
on the old Broadway show tune “Tea for Two”.
He proudly played it for Art Tatum, whereupon Tatum sat down and improvised
on it for an hour. Horowitz asked when
Tatum has written all of that and the reply was “Just now.” Horowitz never performed his score. This is probably Tatum’s most famous improvisation
on an old standard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKb0Sc2lYVU
Art's Blues, with the Dorsey Brothers
One of the few clips of Tatum playing ensemble with a band. Not just any band! The Dorseys had reunited and were at the top of their game in 1947, when this movie was made. Tommy Dorsey introduces this scene with the line "Let's go hear a real musician!"
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