Art Tatum

Arthur Jr Tatum known as Art Tatum (October 13rd 1909 - November 5th 1956) is a Pianiste of jazz.

Biography

Arthur Jr Tatum is born the October 13rd 1909 with Toledo (Ohio), in a musician family. He studies initially the Violon and the Guitare, then the Piano. Art Tatum is almost completely blind; autodidact, it uses the Braille and reproduced the music which it hears on the discs. Adolescence, he plays already professionally of the piano with Toledo. But it begins really its professional beginnings in 1926. Its music is influenced by that of Fats Waller.

It is engaged by Speed Webb in 1928, then, from 1929 to 1930, goes to play in its own show of radio. In 1932 with New York, it accompanies the singer Adélaïde Hall.

Its first recordings go back to March 1933, and Art Tatum reveals there a style of piano completely different and much more complex than the style from the time. Then, of 1934 to 1941, it records many discs for Deca. It makes some discs with Joe Turner and it plays in clubs with Chicago and Cleveland. Art Tatum at that time becomes a major figure of the Jazz and will make rounds in all the the United States and even in England (he plays Ciro' S club of London).

Art Tatum forms with the guitarist Tiny Grimes and the bass player Slam Stewart an extremely popular trio of Jazz. During the years 1940, it makes a round in North America. It is crowned of “Gold Award” in 1944 by a review named Esquire, and it plays first concert of jazz given to the Subway of New York. It gives concerts on the 52e street in trio. It was the only success of alive sound. It very briefly appears (13 seconds!) in the film The Fabulous dorseys , in 1947. Art Tatum engraves a series of solos for the label Capitol in 1949. It was surely the most succeeded period of its Article. Art Tatum records many discs for Norman Granz, of 1954 to 1956, in solo like The solo masterpieces ; but also with Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Benny Casing, Ben Webster (whose recordings with Art Tatum were a great success). A European round is announced.

Art Tatum dies of a crisis of Urémie, the November 5th 1956.

He is regarded as one of the most important pianists of the Jazz. There inspired much respect (in particular on behalf of Fats Waller, Vladimir Horowitz and even of Serge Rachmaninov), and he remains a reference nowadays.

He was largely recognized for his creative virtuosity and his improvisations. The legend wants that one day, when it entered a club where Fats Waller gave a concert, this last declared: “It is me which plays this evening, but God is with us in the room. ”

Quotation

I remember that Art Tatum had called a piece Sweet Lorraine because it had been in Lorraine during the war of 14-18 , Georges Perec, I remember, 6.

Discography

Others

Here its principal titles, recorded for the majority in 1948 and 1949:

How High The Moon ;
Nice work yew you edge get it;
Mankin' Whoopee ;
Night and day ;
Dardanella ;
Goin' home;
I got has rhythm;
Humoresque ;
Tea for two ;
After you've gone ;
pink Honeysuckle;

St Louis Blues;
Reduced;
In has sentimental mood;
Emaline ;
Cocktails for two.

Extracts from “'' Elegie ''” with the format Ogg - 21 seconds, 145 KB.

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