The Legendary Art Tatum (Tinys Excercise)-full

[BasementBeginnings]

Damn! That's an exercise? Meaning he has even more impressive shit coming up next?

I couldn't play that if I practiced piano my whole life, and Tatum has the nerve to call it a warmup. Meanie.

[johanneskersthold]

so good !!!

[tropicvibe]

Tatum seems to crack a slight smile after that crazy run at 0:55

[justlooseit8567]

Where can I find the sheet music for this it is AMAZING!!!!

[shaitan9]

I saw a bit on Art Tatum in the Ken Burns Jazz documentary and was blown away with the few clips they showed. I can't even crack my knuckles that fast.

[marvinkmooneyoz]

You cant judge Art Tatums abilities, echnical or artistic, byt his clip, this guy sounds like a piano duet song after song after song./ check out the last 30 seconds of the tiger rag clip especially. IS he as good as horowitz and gang? maybe not in every technical regard, but probably exceeds all of them at tatumisms. and for on the spot improvising? other than the creativity, thats hard to pull of on the spot, even the best classical players dont just sight read liszt and all that stuf

[tigertolyy]

okay honestly im not impressed at all. even as jazz piano goes im not impressed. but heck no when it comes to classical.

[Pectiniculus]

@tigertolyy Rachmaninoff said quite on the contrary when meeting Art Tatum: "he's the greatest piano player in any style".

[tigertolyy]

@Pectiniculus lol well then Rachmaninoff was greatly mistaken. watch and listen to, Yundi Li, Yuja Wang, Vladimir Horowitz, Artur Rubinstein, and Martha Argerich. i could name others. tons of others. who are all out of this world compared to Tatum.

[BBshyJazzArtist]

Chick corea

[WielkiZielonyMelon]

That was a warmup? Exercise? :D

[shelim23]

@WielkiZielonyMelon Yeah this is one of there warm up tune's!

[WielkiZielonyMelon]

@shelim23 So after the warmup we would be able to see his fingers [;

[doob10163]

Does anyone know what the full video is called?

[MrNicespaces]

Tatum

Stands

Alone



[WILLOWAB62]

Nessuno ha mai suonato e mai suonerà più così.

[71lupenzo710]

@WILLOWAB62 concordo e avvallo

[WILLOWAB62]

@71lupenzo710 il fatto è che, mi sembra, lui non faccia il virtuosismo a tutti costi, come a dimostrare bravura, e che poi stufa. No, lui fa i virtuosismi mantenendo la linea melodica semplice, fischiettabile. Come viene spontaneo a chi suona veramente tantissimo.  Per questo è unico. Altri pianisti saranno 'forse' altrettanto virtuosi, ma tendono sempre a 'rovinare' la melodia originale.

[pzm9pzm9]

i am pretty sure he is from another planet

[MAJORSNODGRASS]

As I say its pre-bebop (pre-1945) so it does sound dated even korny. I don't doubt his technique but sometimes less is more.

[camploismyalias]

@MAJORSNODGRASS Ignorance. Its Art Tatum you fool! If he says its right then its right.

[awesomewelles90]

Bebop isn't less. If anything it's MORE. It's more complex harmonically and also usually very up-tempo and frenetic. You could say Charlie Parker or Miles Davis sound "dated" but it doesn't really mean much. The music is either good or it's not, and this music is most definitely GOOD!

[HillbillyJ]

@MAJORSNODGRASS Seriously? Music is what one person feels it too be, esp Jazz. So if someone wants more, (esp. Art Tatum, one of the best Jazz piano players ever) then more is more. Besides, bop was more complex!

[psycho0009]

how is art not using his left hand in this video, for the harmonies. wtf.

[tommie997]

@psycho0009 because there's a bassist

[MAJORSNODGRASS]

Technique isn't everything.Sounds very dated now.

[trumpetman]

@MAJORSNODGRASS you have to have lost your damn mind... no you seriously are crazy for saying that... I KNOW you can't play that.

[MAJORJANNA]

ritcher vs tatum

[revolution999999999]

Greatest pianist ever.

[MacktheFilet]

Agreed

[gymgymgymgym]

@revolution999999999  Your statement is incorrect.

[Xiphosss]

@revolution999999999 What is Beethoven? What is Mozart? ART TATUM 4 LIFE!!!

[tropicvibe]

After watchin Art I don't feel like playing the piano anymore.

[Flextones]

Chick Corea as I live and breathe. Speed is about time. You have got to feel the pulse first then the division in half and thirds. Then feel the subdivisions. Then relax and keep a quiet body. The greater the division and subdivision the more relaxed and focused you have to become. I always had good time. I had trouble developing harmonic complexity but I am starting to get that now. Tatum played a perfect, alternate and composite cycle with his left hand. to fill in while he was striding.

[sergeidave]

O.O at 0:29 - 0:30 Those fingers just glide ethereally over they keys!!!!

[FlamingoReaper]

According to Mingus [who studied with Art] Fat's Waller said 'Oh, my God! Art Tatum's in the house!,' because Waller was a baaad mthr fckr too, ya know...

[RJJazzman]

Actually, there's a story about when Tatum walked in to a club where Fats Waller was playing. Fats Waller said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I play piano, but tonight God is in the house." Waller considered Tatum a god and I doubt many will disagree with Waller's comments.

[tbcass]

FACT#3: After hearing Art Tatum play, Oscar Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he did not touch the piano for over a week.

Tatum was Peterson's primary influence. He saw Tatum early in his career and seeing him inspired him to become one of the greatest piano players himself, possibly the equal of Tatum in most ways but with a style all his own.

[hugleberthumperdink]

he didnt play for 2 months. that says something

[samadjhi]

tbcas mighty big statement.

[johntg123]

...and the great classical pianist at the turn of the century Rubenstein was stunned when he first save Tatum's dexterity. He was quoted as saying "thank God he isn't a classical pianist". Validair Horowitz was floored by Tatum's ability. In his last interview on PBS Horowitz is sitting at the paino and for a brief moment breaks out some piano playing from the 1920s and 1930s as a show of respect love and admiration for Art Tatum - he even managed a slight grin.

[kasyapa]

when was that interview - and what was the piece? :)

[johntg123]

@kasyapa I am sorry I do not recall the piece - seems like a rag type era piece and the interview aired on PBS about five years ago - when it was filmed I do not know. Mr. Horowitz was living in a New York apartment or condo with his wife, I don't believe PBS aired many interviews with Horowitz - it should be easy to find. It was an absolute classic moment - when he played the piece - as if a tipping of his hat to Mr. Tatum - I showing of respect and a fond remberence.

[kasyapa]

i think you are thinking of the 60 mins. interview when horowitz kids around and plays a bit of operetta music - kalman, i think it was. he joked he could play it at the astor during dinner hour.

[jwilkerson614]

Well....

That's a shot to the ego and a kick in the testicles...

[JazzChriss]

I totally understand the look on Chick Corea's face ... stop at 0:22 of the film and look on Chick Corea when he said those words about Tatum being a God and not from this world.

[godapproved]

what is amazing to about this clip is how he has the piano rememberized by heart. he does all of this without glancing at the piano.

[cookiesthepirate]

looking at the keys wouldn't help him much... he was blind :)

[macflyfilm]

nearly

[GotsTricks]

@cookiesthepirate

In one eye.

[Despond]

Best way I can describe seeing his technique is it's like sliding a piece of ice across a glass surface.

Jaw dropping footage.

[courageux28]

Despond very well said. I've been trying to sum up Tatum's technique myself. You nailed it.

[mmeyer1]

0:56 -0:58, How does a human play so many notes in such a short time?! A true piano God at work

[Reggie1971]

I just watched that again and it sent a chill up my spine. Unbelievable.

[JamesPriceJohnson]

beautiful, thank you so much for posting

[burybobz]

Genius, in nearly 75 years, still nobody has come close to this near blind, alcoholic magician!

[voolare]

Another anegdote of Art Tatum is that apparently Horowitz after hearing him playing said :" If he switches to classical, I better retire" (or something laike that).

[joebandana]

so fast and yet so swinging. imagine if he were here today! he would be a phenomenon

[spyderman57]

this is awesome un fu_)(*&^&*ing real.

[4DECO1]

If I ever had aspirations of playing the piano, they've all flown out the window after seeing this. How the hell did he do that? He looks as if he's barely touching the keys.

[BlueinGreen2]

The run at 00:29 is so good its beyond belief - he doesn't even look as though he is playing any notes, his hand is just gliding down the piano.

Simply bewildering.

[locinf92]

Holy crap it is. I can't believe I've never seen someone play this good before.

[uncleruckus789]

he looks at the camera in the beginning like "Hey, Watch this shit."

[likemusik]

I think he was blind really.

[framaulo]

I love the way he moves the hands

[mukubella]

I wish this clip were an hour long. I am still totally in shock - I can't believe that this is the first time I've heard him play. Unbelievable. Love it though - doubt I will sleep tonight.

[KojiRecords]

I just found the 78 rpm album set of 3 12" discs (one was missing) by The Art Tatum Trio on Comet Records for the extremely pricey sum of $1 in a Los Angeles thrift store this afternoon. The things Tatum did on the piano are still to this day unbelievable. Tatum was more than a master of the instrument while, at the same time, not knowing any boundaries on the keyboard. To call the legendary Art Tatum a genius is simply an understatement. Tatum is and always will be in a class all by himself.

[fedalxis]

Where is it from? Is it some C.Corea's dvd? What's the name of it?

[baudilus]

This clip is from a video called "Piano Legends" and is hosted by Chick, who plays his "Yellow Nimbus" piece at the end.

It is one of my most treasured videos - it's VHS only, no DVD.

[fedalxis]

Thanx) I'll try to find it on the net...

[ArtisX]

Art Tatum is a musical god...

[khlymore]

master