Art Tatum -- Little Man You've Had a Busy Day

[schnorschrajaxx]

this should have stopped apartheid, prime example that black people are as gifted (in this case even more so) than us "whites" and that we're all the same the only difference being that is was primarely white people that managed to fuck this planet up in under a hundred years =/

[16yearoldwhiteboy]

I don't think the saying There's always some1 thats better than you out there, no matter how hard you try applies to this man and he didn't even have to try..

[FliegendeHollaender]

@16yearoldwhiteboy

I see you in every Tatum video, 16 year old, white boy.

[TheGifted901]

This is a testament to the little gifts straight from heaven God creates by touching his children with just one finger...

[darynbond]

2:43 who didn't gasp?

[equinoxx2]

to the 4 soulless saps, you are already dead. My god, this man is one for the ages...ART! you live forever.

[AforArt]

im proud to have the name Art after watching this :]

[JakeZ0MG]

@AforArt

cool, bro (:

[dvsguitar1]

PURE Genius!

[AskWhy09]

I hear alot of that stuff Corey Henry is doing in this clip.....I like it.....I like how his speed is used almost like a paint brush against those chords....

[need4speed4245]

4 people don't know beauty when they hear it

[TheBlueBeatle3]

He reminds me of Mozart. Talent from within that others either admire. or envied....

[erykaadams]

I was reading an article about how good his ears were.

Slam stewart his bass player and himself had insane perfect pitch they would argue over the notes they heard from glass bottles being tapped these guys could really hear

[schillie7]

awesome, awesome, this is ....music

this is why they tried to build a piano in the first place

thanxz, mr Tatum, for havin taken the effort to show us, how to play this song

[pretorious700]

Funny how the most evolved music seems to bring out the most vile hateful ignorance on youtube...must be some law of inverse proportions

[pinkieldred]

Magical.........!!!!!!!!

[v6pete]

If Tatum had been an electronics guy, he'd have invented the internt and the iphone back in 1950...in his lunch break.

[38VONDA]

Jesus is real

[38VONDA]

jesus is real

[KimFunkful]

this guy is in other dimensions. incredible improvisational abillity!

[johnnycchops]

Cool harmonic suspension, chord and ascending run, 1:07-1:10

[humbleu]

Art is lke Jesus. between god and legend

[cochicmcintosh]

peopl are just jealous of greatness.. All they can do is critique .... probably a bit racist too.... As there is NO such thing as race anyway... But this is MUSIC of the HIGHEST musicianship.... And its CLEVER and WITTY! Which is COOL.... All you haters go hang!

[jihadsoup]

All I hear are runs interspersed with a little melody.

[thereportersclinic]

@jihadsoup That's because you have no ear. Sad for you.

[jihadsoup]

@thereportersclinic Care to enlighten me? Without an explanation, you just sound like a pretentious cock.

[thereportersclinic]

@jihadsoup Your mother is a whore. You probably have no father. Allah is a false god and Mohammad is a fucking child molestor. This is why you can't hear Art Tatum's greatness.

[jihadsoup]

@thereportersclinic Obvious troll is obvious.

[Jazzhog]

To be able to master an instrument especially the piano in such a unique way is truly masterful. Art was that type of pianist, his technique was extraordinary. I've learned a long time ago that you never try to compare an artist to any other. Each one has his or her own unique talent. And with a lot of practice they develop their own unique voice of expression. If you listen closely you develop an ear to a particular musician. Art Tatum, is Art Tatum, there is no denying it...

[geoffangusmusic]

Nice to hear Tatum's spontaneous side. You can really hear the human being behind the talent in this. <3

[TrinidadPiano]

No, I heard a beautiful song too. Art was the best.

[SunsetSix]

His vision for the music was HUGE, even though he was almost blind.

[sdoruconstantin]

@SunsetSix WE are blind !!! ;-)

[JazzKeyboardist1]

A "true" story I heard on my national public radio jazz station,,,, Oscar Peterson, Art and a bunch of pianists were at a club, and they all got up to play, one at a time, Art followed Oscar, and Tatum played Little Man you ve had a busy day,,,, Everyone in the club got the joke, but it was supposed to be all in fun,,,, A great book to steal Art's licks is by Riccardo Scivales,,the right hand according to Tatum, Ekay Music inc,,,, and no, my name is not riccardo lol

[GotsTricks]

@JazzKeyboardist1

I listened to the same special, it was a very funny moment I bet! What a great crowd music had back then..

[fromanDg]

This mans skill is just pure amazing at work. Although I lack the musical knowledge to appreciate all of the intricacies of this piece, I do posses the common sense and love of piano to know that this is absolutely beautiful music. What blessed hands!!

[frivoflava29]

@fromanDg Well said!

[tadejonbass]

awesome tune - this man is really into music

[wa1ufo]

Genius!

[NorthernPlus]

There is a bit of abruptness with Tatum compared to what we listen to today. If we all just try to understand just a little bit, and move forward to today, this guy has already passed us and we don't know it. Just the guy that I always wished I could have listened to at a live performance. When they land on the Moon again, Art will have already bin on Mars and blasted off for the next great episode. God do I wish I could have heard him in person.

NorthernPlus

[marlborobeb]

pt voi,pe undeva si fratii nostri,scoala pt voi este o piedica......simtul vostru depaseste orice imaginatie lumii nu tocmai a voastra !!!!!!!!!! sincere si profunde felicitari !

[dwpro19]

anybody know wat album this is on??

[tinribs70]

@dwpro19

It is from one of two albums recorded in California in 1956. Came out first on LP around 1960 or so; subsequently on CD.

Tinribs70

[Jughand]

each note is like a raindrop of magic. sometimes its hard to believe he was human.

[dnettles]

TATUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! The greates!!!!!!!!!!

[DajaWaja]

JAJAJAAJJAJAJA claro mira este, no te jode JAJAJAJAJAJ

[inkontinentius]

I can't stop listening to this technique and to his style. If I had the musical knowledge of Art Tatum I would play nearly the same way than he did.

[ezmoney410]

ART!!!!

[pinkieldred]

Amazing....from 2:00 to 2:18...OMG !

[NorthernPlus]

Ok say what you want...............  What else can one say......Of all the musicians that I wish I had the opportunity to listen to "live," this is the guy.

[Maxven]

I couldn't agree more. To have been there, oh man. But then again I'd have loved to sit in on Monk as well. I guess you can't have'em all.

[NorthernPlus]

@Maxven

Refused to move at the Cincinnati Jazz Festival in the early 60s after the sound guys realized they sold me the wrong seats for them to operate. Ended up with free tickets for the next night's show plus press passed back stage. Monk was "real high" as usual. Impossible to talk to him. A flawless performance none the less. A great memory for me for ever.

[brabazon10]

1930s...Ray Noble and his Orchestra....with Paul Robeson.

[hugleberthumperdink]

this seems very very similar to his version of someone to watch over me. sure it isnt that?

[nfox25]

Does anyone know the history of this song? When was it originally published/recorded?

[jimraw1]

Little Man you've had a busy Day was written by Mabel Wayne, Al Hoffman and Maurice Sigler. It was first recorded by Emil Coleman, who led a New York dance orchestra in 1934. Isham Jones (who had a very popular band in the 1920s) had a semi big hit with it, but it was Paul Robeson (famous for singing Ole man River) that had the first big hit with it. Ray Noble also had a big hit with it. The song was kind of forgotten until Perry Como recorded it in 58 and Sarah Vaughn& Count Basie did it in 61.

[wteo340]

From Wikipedia:

Around 1950 when Bud Powell was opening for Tatum at Birdland (jazz club), Powell reportedly said to Tatum: "Man, I'm going to really show you about tempo and playing fast. Anytime you're ready."

Tatum laughed and replied: "Look, you come in here tomorrow, and anything you do with your right hand, I'll do with my left."

Powell never took up the challenge.

[LetTheMusicFlow1]

lol epic pwnage.

[drumnmarc]

He is awsome on the piano.

[brabazon10]

Perhaps nobody in piano playing history has been able to integrate so much into his playing; one of those musicians who come along about every 100 years. He was playing on a higher plane to his contemporaries.

[Flextones]

Before Bud walked in there was Art. i love Bud. i can't take anything from him, but Art was born before Bud. He set a high standard. Art was more advanced harmonically than Bud. He wasn't necessarily a faster subdivider than Bud but he played denser harmonies and more altered harmonies than Bud. Bud played simple two voice shells usually in his left hand. He did write UnPoco Loco and some surrielistic Salvator Dali kinds of abstractions musically but Art did more with tempo changes too.

[kingnabil73]

art will be ever there.his piano playing is so wide.

[mahoose6]

master of the piano :)

[DYNODRUM]

"He was Born for Piano or ,it was made with him in mind from an angelic realm..."

[blakboi21]

Admirable...no other instrument needed! Genius. Tatum plays with such "passion"

[killit3666]

gotta love this

[BigJLuke]

wow.. Let me just say that Artie was Moby Dick in a fishtank!! Unbelievable technique. One who laughed at the impossible. True piano genius.

[mymusicdiscovery]

Interesting tune - starts like "Someone To Watch Over Me"

[musicdivinemusic]

Around 3:00 I can also hear strands of "In a Sentimental Mood". Great stuff anyway.

[blah148]

Holy crap!! 2:19!! HUGE HANDS

[pinkieldred]

One of the best musical contributions on U Tube...of all the many wonderful Tatum recordings I think this is my favorite..( if it's possible to have a Tatum favorite)...:) Thank you for this! How absolutely marvelous this pianist was. Of the many magic tricks... I'm picking 2:00-2:18 as just one of his many astounding statements ...Genius!

[gawgul]

Agreed, was just thinking that--this is the best Tatum I've heard on youtube--and I enjoy your submissions as well.

[petibeber]

I love Art Tatum.Incredible negro music.

[poetictube]

Am I the only person who heard nothing but a beautiful song?

It gets annoying when every single Art Tatum video devolves into stupid arguments over who played faster than who.

Art Tatum was also very lyrical player, who could evoke strong, deep emotion. Do people forget this ??????

[tbcass]

@poetictube People who don't know much about music get hung up on speed and technique when there is so much more. Tatum was great and also had great technique. He was not great because he had great technique.

[domcoltman]

@tbcass Agree, you can't dissect this guy and his music like Mozart, this is jazz and this is Art Tatum- as far as I'm concerned he could play any way he wanted, it would be fine with me- people can take it or leave it, .... I like it a lot.

[Dolphidood]

@poetictube Eeeexactly... I just listen to this either because I want to know how to play it or I want to enjoy my self (in my case, I take it seriously because it helps me to relax when life gets hectic) but other than those two purposes every other one doesn't really have a use... i.e. making pointlessly robotic comparisons in ignorance to the beauty of music.

[860125mwj]

@poetictube Art does not always play fast either. A good piano player does not always play fast because thats not what the piano is all about.You can play fast and still sound like crap.When art tatum played fast, it actually sounded like something.

[kasyapa]

incredible evenness/lightness/fullness of tone - reminds me of horowitz.

[clucaspik]

Oscar Peterson used to tell a great story about himself and some other pianists sitting around, taking turns playing for Tatum. He let them go on and on, then played for them THIS particular tune. He probably picked it for it's title: Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day. As in, "Nice try!"

[pinkieldred]

Oh but lets not overlook Erroll Garner..!

[BRazor78]

What about Bud Powell??? Founder of bebop piano???

[476892]

Fuck Bud Powell...Art Tatum is here!!!!

[pinkieldred]

Bud Powell...wonderful and yes he had his special musical contributions! I really can't be diplomatic when it come to comparing Tatum with others. To me A Tatum was absolutely the best. I have every one of his recordings and love him so. I truly think this particular rendition of Little Man You've Had A Busy Day is a very good example of how masterful this great pianist was.

[jimraw1]

For me, the only real challenger to Tatum was Oscar Peterson. Phineas Newborne is another worthy successor - its no wonder that his primary influences were Tatum, Powell and Peterson. I'm astounded by Tatum and learn something new, but admittedly probably enjoy listening to Peterson more, especially when working with a group.

[Blackkx]

@jimraw1 Oscar came up listening to Tatum..... Oscar quit piano for 2 weeks after hearing Tatum play... I think it was "tiger rag"

[Ouija88]

@Blackkx It was Tiger Rag, but it was 2 months as you can her in an interview. Just search oscar Peterson interview, ehh some with pevrin i though. Im quite drunk now so i don't remember haha. Anyway sad that Art can't hear Oscar playing when he went older cuz i think they're on the same level, just diffirent style!

[paulostroff99]

@Blackkx -He also cried. Didn't turn out to be a to distant a second either.

[FightingTheWitness]

Erl Hines, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson...masters of the Jazz Piano.

[mahoose6]

Definitely

[123BubberMiley]

Earl Hines and Art Tatum. two greatest jazz pianists ever.

[blah148]

I completely agree with you. Earl Hines seems to be very underrated, yet he had superb playing capabilities

[dangoorevitch]

Awesomely gentle.

[pinkieldred]

eccentric...one of the best musical contributions on U Tube...of all the many wonderful Tatum recordings I think this is my favorite..( if it's possible to have a Tatum favorite)...:) Thank you for this!

[Modes9]

If you're looking for exercises and harmonic devices, you can always use the Nicolas Slonimsky Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns. It's a life-long study.

[jazzlife1]

You can never go wrong with Art Tatum.

[bflattmuzik]

Get a Hanon music book it's really good to start with and the excercises are fun.

[musictranscription]

I can write for you any sheet music

[Pepewoods]

i've been playin keyboard for a few years and i arrange a little. does anyone have any ideas as far as how and what to practice...what are the great books and dvd's related to piano and keyboard....what are the great bands (any genre)...should i focus on becoming good at reading sheet music... anything that's going to help me grow musically ( even different ideas from the questions that i posted) i'm open to.

[Kolef88]

As a student you should learn a tune and then listen to what the masters do with it. Listen to guys like Tatum and figure out what he's playing how he is improvising on the changes and how he is modifying the changes. Ultimately it's more important to listen to yourself and your own inspiration, than trying to imitate anyone or play any licks or chops.

[Pepewoods]

i can't say thank you enough for the advice.

[ugnex3]

guys like Tatum..HA you wish!

[Kolef88]

Don't feel bad if you can imitatum technique-wise, however the harmonic devices that Tatum pioneered are part of the harmonic landscape of contemporary jazz.

[ffurgy]

Take a look at some of Nat King Cole's piano arrangements. You'll be stunned. He was a genius like Tatum, and mighty good hands...

[Groek123]

Its not possible for a normal pianist to move his fingers on a Table in the same way , only the move is not from this planet man :-).

[pinkieldred]

Is the filled with magic or what? Listen to 2:05 through 2:20..!

[Quark1949]

I like the style and originality, the speed and careful use of it. This man is surely a great pianist, and my impression is that he is largely self-taught.

[paganviodio]

well im an musician,and heard of this guy and heard of him.studied piano as a mandatory class in music academy,i am actually a violinist,that´s why i allow myself to say,that,such kind of playing,with many many double stops,and arpeggios etc...cannot just be coincedence,he must practice this all...if not,this had to be then right that,he is even greater...i say this very coinsence,greater than horowitz...coz we know he practiced daily many many hours...

[EliotKrupa]

God kissed this guys hands.

[brianCIM]

awesome post eccentric. i take it this is from the "20th Century Piano Genius". i love this tune so much. can you imagine if you were one of the people who saw this? i don't think the people at the party realized how special this was. it would be like watching mozart compose. thank you so much!

[jeffzp]

Horowitz actually thought Tatum was a great pianist!

[globrazilcom]

Genius, simply Genius. An admirer from the land of Samba and Bossa Nova... I love his playing!

[ltfunko]

A genuine enigma. Much like Shawn Lane on guitar.

[olivermania]

shawn lane loved art tatum.

[Andyaeola]

The story goes that there were a number of pianists playing to impress Tatum, including his protege, Peterson.

Tatum eventually goes to the piano, and obviously with some humour in mind, picks this tune to improvise.

[pinkieldred]

What more can be said of this "Genius". He takes me to a very special far off place filled with miracles and dreams comming true land. Aren't some of us so blessed to be able to hear all the magic he gave us, to be alive and enjoy this awesome talent. I always know deep within me he is everything to live for everything. Between Thank you for this wonderful gift

[pinkieldred]

I've had this discussion with others that don't quite understand the genius of Tatum!They say "It isn't the amount of notes a pianist plays but the choice of notes and where they are placed in a song". They site Bill Evans as an example. I would say in most cases they are right but not when it comes to Tatum. Take for example between 2:00-2:18 in this tune,everyone of those notes are right! Perfectly,precisely placed in a most meaningful way.Tatum never wasted a note!

[IntelInside2020]

exactly - tatum had bth gifts -- amazing velocity and agreat sense of "note choice".No one was experimenting with flatted fifths and other musical devices before Tatum.

[pinkieldred]

Yes Tatum was a masterful pioneer in so many ways. I never tire from listening too and discussing the wonderful pianist. This is an incredible rendition of this lovely song but and that in itself explains Tatum ....always incredible. Is there one thing in this world to truly live for, that's beyond explination, makes magic happen and dreams come true...yes It's the genius of Art Tatum.

[ahutch70]

Masterful , soulful , no other words can describe this man's playing .

[Timbul53525253]

Ooh, how about "genius", or even "'kin 'ell!"?