@ALTERED13TH Haha, well did you listen to his recording of "Exactly Like You?" He uses all the bop-type block close chords when he comps (any of the ones I would use), polyrhythmic groupings, half-step approaches, and spends half his second solo playing over the most ridiculous substitutions that make his lines so far out of the key, I don't know that anyone knows what the hell he's doing. His trio playing is literally old and modern at the same time. That's what I mean by my statement.
A great book for stealing Art's licks is "The right hand according to Tatum", Riccardo Scivales, ekay music inc,,,,,After I got married, my wife quit her job, helping me combine sex with happy hour piano playing,,, even jewelry wouldn't help,
Not to say in words what this man has given to humanity, and to my humble self, not just music, not just genius but LOVE. He was an angel – and when I say this I am really not joking. Look his face attentively, the incredible loving intelligence it expresses. And perhaps my view is not conventional, and I don't care. In addition, I find he was one of the most handsome males ever in human history.
A great book for musicians to steal Art's licks is by Riccardo Scivales,,the right hand according to Tatum,,Ekay Music Inc,,,After I got married, my wife quit her job of helping me combine sex with happy hour piano playing,,,even jewelry didn't help,,lol
Beautiful. Any posting that gives people even a grainy glimpse of this giant of an artist at work does a great service to humanity. Real "genius" is extremely rare, Einstein rare. Their achievement can no more be measured by ordinary human standards than ordinary humans can measure themselves against those rare achievements. Art Tatum is perhaps the last we've seen of those rare-gifted geniuses. And how many generations until the next god-like form descends among mortals a while. Thx 4 the post.
Una delle straordinarie improvvisazioni-parodie di Tatum basate su brani classici (insieme a Goin' Home sempre da Dvorak, la Melodie in F di Anton Rubinstein, l'Elegie di Massenet, il Valzer in C# min. di Chopin)...gustosissime commistioni di serio e di faceto...Tatum suona da Dio, è il Dio del pianoforte...
When playing at a club, the Great Fats Waller saw Art Tatum in the audience. It is said that he announced Art Tatum by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight you have been only listening to the pianist ... now God has walked in". Wonderful talent but I am sure good old Fats had more fun, and more women to make up for it !! Thanks for posting
the first great jazz pianists are probably jelly roll morton, george gershwin, thomas fats waller.. those are ragtime and really intense stride- pianists ( look up what " stride-piano" means, if u do not already know its quite important, later, around 30ies, 40 and 50ies: peterson, bud powell, thelonious monk, horace silver, bill evans, mccoy tyner, a lil later, very famous jazzrock and funk- players : herbie hancock, chick corea and george duke.. o yea, i forgot; veeery important: keith jarrett
I like your selections, oldwarcraftgamer, but you limited yourself strictly to jazz. Keith Jarrett is a very eclectic choice: doesn't read music, everything is improvised. Given your choice, could someone reasonably consider Thelonius Monk--a fascinating artist but quite unorthodox?
well ok sry yea i tendet to jazz cuz its art tatum we re listening to^^ so i thought i just pass trough the jazz history with some of the bests, more or less chronologically..what do u think about monk exactly , plz write if u got some time , i would be really interested, that man is quite controversial,
I think Monk was a good composer. As a pianist I think he was more a stylist than a technician, whereas the greatest pianists are always both. My original point was that Tatum takes a back seat to NO pianist, jazz or classical, and that I think Tatum was one of the top 5 pianists who ever walked the planet. I just wanted to start a discussion to perhaps get opposing views and I loved all the comments of those who weighed in!
By some type of miraculous miracle he had to be able to play a piano the first time he touched one, beacause its hard to believe that he started from scratch not knowing anything about it. I'm convinced that God taught him in the womb.
you know, some people actually just plays piano from nothing. sviatoslav richter never played scales and the first piece he played on piano was chopin's nocturne, then an etude. bet tatum something like one of those impossibles.
I am laughing with delight like a child listening to this piece of music! oh it feels so nice hearing tatum play... mmm... mezzzmorising and ticklish is all I can say to describe it.. @ 1:44sec, love it
It is amazing what Tatum can do... I have heard Tea for Two done by other pianists. Have heard Tiger Rag played by different pianists but I have never heard anyone but Tatum play Humoresque. It is like every pianist is aware that he/she cannot ever play it like him so they stay away from it either out of respect or acknowledgement that they cannot play it any better than Tatum.
God wasn't black! He came down as a jewish guy who wasn't black either he looked like one of the beegies!!! The sick fella! Ha ha! Art Tatum Was amazing, he and Thelonious Monk are my favorite piano players. T.M. was "cool" but I'd rather have beers with Art Tatum! Amazing!!! I never saw a video of him till now, he looks like a big friendly bear!!!! I love it!!! Oh wait I forgot Jelly role and fats..... But he's still tops!!! Cheers-
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Would all the piano nerds stop comparing O.P. to the great Art Tatum. Mentioning Petrerson's name in the same breath as Tatum's is ignorant and disrespectful. Tatum was not only a genius, but an INNOVATOR.
The only piano player I ever heard that came close to Art Tatum was the great Swing piano player Mel Powell.He used several Tatum devices in his mid late Forties period.Still no one to match Tatum however.
I remember seeing an interview with Les Paul, who said Art Tatum was the cause of him changing from piano to guitar. "When I heard him, I quit that very night!" he said.
8th wonder... God is in the House... whatever you wanna call the cat... His genius was unmatched... Tatum group masterpieces, a trio with Jo Jones and Red Callender... my fave
Oscar was the only who can play as fast as Tatum (just listen one of his 70s recordings of "Sweet Georgia Brown" or "Caravan"), and when he was 14, he heard an Art Tatum recording and cried every night the next two months because he felt intimidated.
The two best piano players ever and they never recorded together (that could sound like four pianos)
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
technique is not what makes a pianist good, its the musical mind, Peterson and Tatum are no where near the best ever most likely among the best, i dont think u can have a best..cause all have their distinctive quality's, and music is very subjective..my personal is ahmad jamal..
its all right to have favorites and i understand that you're trying to assert your opinion; however, dont be stupid and say that peterson and tatum were, "nowhere near the best." Their virtuosity and influence fills every corner of the jazz world and that cannot be denied
charlie parker washed dishes at a club before his career really started, and, as bird acknowledged, it was hearing people like tatum, and lester young that instigated his ideas on bebop-which obviously is still prevalent today.
Yes it is true the music of Art Tatum is no longer popular. But this is because nobody can play like Art Tatum. And it is ridiculous that there is not a film made about him since he is really the God of piano. Yes Oscar Pet. was/is brilliant and highly respected but he has no relation whatsoever with Art Tatum whose playing is just inconceivable by normal people.
And this is exactly why nobody even attempts to play his music. Because if he does, he would just ridicule himself.
There's a movie about Ray Charles.. which with all due respect is a good film. but there isn't a movie about Art Tatum. Is it safe to say that actors today are afraid to take on the task of capturing the essence of Art Tatum. Jamie Foxx took on the challenge of playing the blind pianist Ray Charles but I doubt he'll sit at the piano take supreme command of the instrument like Tatum did all his life/career.
Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum are apples and oranges. Nobody will ever touch Tatums virtuosity and inhuman touch. And nobody will ever swing like Peterson. I'm not saying Oscar doesn't have chops, because that would be idiotic. Just not like Tatum who must have been engineered by some mad scientist to play piano like nietzsche's superman.
Really enjoyed reading your well thought out comment. Oscar Peterson said when he was a teen he got the big head concerning his piano playing. Oscar's father introduced him to Art Tatum's "Tiger Rag"...the young Peterson was so overwhelmed with Tatum's virtuosity that he couldn't play for two months.
couldn't be liszt if he himself was intimidated by Alkan's playing, whom he said had the most perfect technique he'd witness. but, i know one thing...liszt had to be a badass considering the things he composed.
What you said regarding OP may be true, but remember, without Art Tatum, they'd BE NO Oscar Peterson, by Oscar's own admission. He was Oscar's idol. Oscar is the Phish to Tatum's Dead.
Tatum was exceptionally creative, a ture pioneer harmonically, and a monster technically, but I prefer OPs more subtle and nuanced stylings, which also have all the dazzling technicality of Tatum. Tatum plays at the same volume most of the time and re-uses a lot of devices despite his creativity.
on a side note i have a rare recording of tatum playing the chopin c# minor waltz. its absolutely atrocious classical playing. rhythm all over the place, lack of phrasing, no dynamic nuance whatsoever. it is fascinating listening though. send me a message if you want to hear it-brian
i want to but every time i try and post it it wont go through. i am not very good at this stuff but i will keep trying. there is a skip on my cd as well so i am considering buying it again. of course the other tracks on the CD are jaw-dropping a usual.
I wish people would stop comparing tatum to classical pianists like the horowitz/tatum debate. its pointless. if tatum had chosen to become a classical pianist think of what we would have lost. one of the greatest jazz minds of the century. if horowitz decided to play jazz we would have lost one of the most original classical minds of the century. when you get to this level of technique there is no best. both had technical control and reflexes of a kind that RARELY comes along.
thats not insane at all. all you have to do is listen to "In a Mist". the harmony is unbelievably advanced drawing from mainly impressionists like debussy and ravel. it also happens to be a gorgeous piece of music. what a tragedy that man died so young.
Yes, Art Tatum and Vladimir Horowitz were said to be very good friends. When Tatum played "Tea for Two" one time, Horowitz replied when he was finished "How do you do that?" You can't really compare Horowitz and Tatum because they play two completely different types of music. Now, Horowitz playing ragtime and stride piano, that would be a sight to see. ;)
I heard it this way: Horowitz played his own "arrangement" of "Tea for Two" for Tatum then Tatum played his (mostly improvised on the spot)for Horowitz. Horowitz then said to Tatum "That was fantastic! How long did it take you to come up with that? Tatum then replied "Well, I guess I've been playing about ten minutes". Ironic, though, in a book that I read of Horowitz' biography (sorry, can't remember the author's name) there is not one mention of Art Tatum.
Ok, you're probably right, it had been awhile since I had read about it, so I guess my facts were a little bit off. So, I'll agree with what you wrote down. I knew that they were friends though, and something to do with Tea For Two, and Horowitz being amazed, just the basics, I suppose. BUt thank you for correcting me, the last thing I want to do is give out false information.
As I've heard it: Horowitz wanted to come up with a "vernacular" musical encore for a concert tour, and he composed a series of theme and variations on "Tea." He played them for Tatum to get his opinion, and Tatum said something like, "Great! Tell me what you think of these." He played his own for H., and H. really dug them and said, "How long did it take you to write THOSE?" Tatum said something like, "I just did."
Great video! Reading the comments below I tend to agree with boowoojo. Don't overthing or overanalyze Tatum! Just listen to the beauty of his music. As per comparing Monk and Tatum, that's not relevant. Tatum wins hands down on technique, Monk on originality.
woah woah woah. Tatum wins on classical technique. Monk had perfect technique for his own style. Tatum just as original as thelonious monk, having known jazz theory 20 years ahead of his time early in the 30s. Thelonious monk was hugely influenced by the structure of chords by this guy, so i think it's ironic to say that monk was more original than tatum in that he used so much of Tatum's discoveries in theory.
I don't think we're in that much of disagreeance. Tatum's the reason I got into jazz in the first place. Before hearing him, I had no appreciation for jazz. When I say that Tatum has superior technique compared to Monk, I meant it in the sense that for sheer equilibrism, I don't know a match for him.
By originality I meant to say that Monk wrote much of the music he played, and when he introduced his style few people appreciated it.
Art Tatum always fascinates me, NOT because of his technique, but because of his musicality, empathy and love for the compositions. You always feel that Tatum really loved the tunes that he played.
With all the ragging about Tatum versus Horowitz, I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that Arturo Toscanini went to hear him play (often with his son in law Horowitz). Toscanini was yet another great artist that was mesmerized by the absolutely unique and unbelievable talent of Tatum. Long may we be in awe.
Woaah are you kidding me?!??!! Thelonius Monk had awful technique he played SFP (Straight finger position) all the time. He's average in comparison to the 2 masters of jazz with superior technique Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.
i cant watch monk play. he is an amazing genius but has probably the ugliest piano technique i have ever seen when it comes to jazz pianists. he stabs the keys. it looks painful actually. he was a musical genious though. no doubt
in some respects that is true, but MANY great pianists have completely natural techniques(Tatum is a prime example). he did have some classical training but the technical way he plays is so effortless and flawless it really cant be taught.
after teaching many years you realise some pianists hands some pianists hands just "look right" on the keyboard. incidentally my piano technician also works for peterson when he comes to cleveland and oscar practises excercises 3 hours a day. i guess with monk we have to seperate his pure musical genious from the mechanical. in this regard i agree with you
Why the silly classical V. Jazz argument? Tatum and Horowitz both had incredible technique, but totally different musical interests that are quite divergent. It's almost impossible to say how Tatum would have interpreted virtuoso classsical pieces (which no doubt he had the technique to play), or how Horowitz et al., would have improvved!! It's like arguing over whether such and such football player would also be great at rugby...
Well said. To be honest having listened to Tatum extensively (an I am an unabashed jazz fanatic) I think Tatum's ability is not only timeless but peerless regardless of genre he is one of the few pianist and musicians that can be said off. I will say I believe it is harder to be an accomplished jazz musician at an early age than it is to be a classical musician at a comparable early age.
Personally I don't think becoming a great classical pianist is any higher a calling than becoming a great jazz pianist. There are only a few people who could really be called great at either art form. Playing classical music has huge hurdles to get over to become good. But so does playing jazz. Impov is a huge hurdle. As for Art Tatum, no need for debate. The man was at the top of his craft, a true master that didn't take anything away from anybody and nobody can take anything away from him.
Classical pianists are constrained in interpreting music they play. A classical song by different pianists sounds the same, with minor variation in tonality. Enter Jazz. It is all about improvisation, owning the music and making it yours. A jazz pianist has to have superior piano skills and sublime sense of improvisation to interpret music on the fly. This dual excellence makes the jazz pianist the superior one. The great classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz was in awe of Art Tatum.
It's a shame you didn't mention that improvising is often a lot easier because you build your own musical phrases, in contrast of classical music where you have to play someone else's. By the way, you can easily notice that during long runs with the right hand, jazz pianist tend to be unable to play anything along with the left one.
I think both styles are great to master, I don't see the point comparing them and lifting one above the other.
I,think your comment here is one of the sane ones ,even though, we are all demented here and the reason for all this,is self inclusive ego , and that don't make music, lets all just keep listening to these greats and hold our peace, ...next....
In all my listening to Liberace I've found him to be a little careless sometimes. Surely not because I can play as well as him but I've played enough and listened to many many records so I can at least make reasonable comparisons.
I think it's unfortunate Liberace eclipsed one of his influences who was actually better, in my opinion... Carmen Cavallaro (of The Eddy Duchin Story fame).
But I digress, Art Tatum had amazing technique, to be sure. :)
Thanks for the response, I've learned something new. You're right, he's careless, flawlessly careless and I think he plays over-the-top because that's what his audience wanted. I just marvel at his precision and versatility. Youtube search Liberace-The Muppet show and you'll see what I mean.
How does Tatum compare to Liberace? What impresses me about Liberace is that he can play ANY music spectacularly and I never saw him make a mistake, of what I've seen.
Eek - everyone seems to be so caught up in this Horowitz/Tatum debate that it's eclipsed how brilliantly this guy is playing jazz! Why doesn't my left hand move like that?!?!
I agree completely. Let's settle for his marvellous jazz playing and leave it at that. No need to make speculation about whether he would have been a great classical player had he gone into that or whether he would have been a fine pool player or ventriloquist. He achieved THIS in THIS field and that's more than enough for me.
Tatum, for obvious reasons, never SAW a piece of sheet music in his life. Horowitz, Van Cliburn or whom-have-you, eventually committed the written notes to memory and could essay a classical piece with consummate skill. HOWEVER, not one of these "longhairs" could begin to sit down on a bench (like Art and Oscar) and display such inborn genius, without the notes.
So jazz 'wins' over classical? Actually Horowitz was a fabulous improviser like Cziffra (and many great classical players). Why all the comparisons? Great jazz players improvise notes. Great classical players improvise with the sound and phrasing that is applied to the notes (fuck 'consumate skill'! that's for everyday competition players). What is the deal with the urge to make a contest?
I had a great response to this, but it was way too long winded to post. In short my argument is that if the two went up against each other Tatum would stand a better chance in classical than Horowitz would in Jazz. However, if you wrote down on paper what Tatum plays and gave them each a week to learn a piece, I believe Horowitz would win. You have to remember that to these guys the speed that makes Tatum look amazing is not really relevant.
Can you please look at the piano keys so i can feel better about myself?!
16yearoldwhiteboy 5 months ago 2
@16yearoldwhiteboy
HE IS FREAKIN BLIND
taylankkk 4 months ago 6
"ladies and gentlemen, God is in the audience" -Fats Waller
LeFruFru 5 months ago
It was nice of him to visit our planet
pianolicious134 7 months ago 3
6 dislikes? Methinks Art Tatum will rise up from his grave and strike you down with lightning bolts of doom.
Santosificationable 8 months ago
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Santosificationable 8 months ago
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jazzmanpianer 10 months ago
@ALTERED13TH Haha, well did you listen to his recording of "Exactly Like You?" He uses all the bop-type block close chords when he comps (any of the ones I would use), polyrhythmic groupings, half-step approaches, and spends half his second solo playing over the most ridiculous substitutions that make his lines so far out of the key, I don't know that anyone knows what the hell he's doing. His trio playing is literally old and modern at the same time. That's what I mean by my statement.
jazzmanpianer 10 months ago
@jazzmanpianer WTH?
mythreefatcats 5 months ago
A great book for stealing Art's licks is "The right hand according to Tatum", Riccardo Scivales, ekay music inc,,,,,After I got married, my wife quit her job, helping me combine sex with happy hour piano playing,,, even jewelry wouldn't help,
JazzKeyboardist1 10 months ago 14
The amazing thing is that geniuses like Art Tatum made it look so effortless.
amd77j 11 months ago
actually, this is much better than the original dvorak - score.
lorenzarthur91 1 year ago
Absolutely remarkable. What an incredible technique. Thank you for posting
paulcopeland 1 year ago
Nobody ever said you had to see to play music.Music is all about hearing and touch.
860125mwj 1 year ago
how on earth can a blind man play that piano so precisely? this lovely man is beyond his era and far beyond ours too
zopiklon 1 year ago
Not to say in words what this man has given to humanity, and to my humble self, not just music, not just genius but LOVE. He was an angel – and when I say this I am really not joking. Look his face attentively, the incredible loving intelligence it expresses. And perhaps my view is not conventional, and I don't care. In addition, I find he was one of the most handsome males ever in human history.
ipublica 1 year ago
I laugh !! how many concert pianists practice for months to run a perfect piece of music
Tatum played in a BAR and does it better than all of them with a smile on your face...
LasVergasPeladas 1 year ago
@LasVergasPeladas careful there, with your statement you're insulting dozens of respected pianists like Richter and Horowitz
TheOneWingAngeI 1 year ago
un real the best
lpvp1 1 year ago
thx for you posting, grazie mille da Roma.
malvinstar 1 year ago
Fuck! He's a cheater!!!! A NORMAL HUMAN CAN'T DO THAT SHIT!!!!! Art's an alien.
foodmunkey 1 year ago
@foodmunkey he has the hax
TheOneWingAngeI 1 year ago
One of the best piano players of all time....does this come in sheet music?
Chezmat1 1 year ago
A great book for musicians to steal Art's licks is by Riccardo Scivales,,the right hand according to Tatum,,Ekay Music Inc,,,After I got married, my wife quit her job of helping me combine sex with happy hour piano playing,,,even jewelry didn't help,,lol
JazzKeyboardist1 1 year ago 2
All the pianos in the world were made waiting for him to be born.
wteo340 1 year ago
i just peed a liitle from listening to this
jaywbe 1 year ago
Thumbs up if you think Art Tatum is the most underestimated musician of the 20th century!
GottaJohnFrusciante 1 year ago
Beautiful. Any posting that gives people even a grainy glimpse of this giant of an artist at work does a great service to humanity. Real "genius" is extremely rare, Einstein rare. Their achievement can no more be measured by ordinary human standards than ordinary humans can measure themselves against those rare achievements. Art Tatum is perhaps the last we've seen of those rare-gifted geniuses. And how many generations until the next god-like form descends among mortals a while. Thx 4 the post.
ltravail 1 year ago
Absolute genius!! TNX!!
wa1ufo 1 year ago
Una delle straordinarie improvvisazioni-parodie di Tatum basate su brani classici (insieme a Goin' Home sempre da Dvorak, la Melodie in F di Anton Rubinstein, l'Elegie di Massenet, il Valzer in C# min. di Chopin)...gustosissime commistioni di serio e di faceto...Tatum suona da Dio, è il Dio del pianoforte...
scarlattatum 1 year ago
Please repair this video!!! Some parts are missing, other are at the wrong place, in the last part: gap between sound and image.
Part 1 >0:00 - 0:11
Part 2 >missing
Part 3 >0:11 - 1:45
Part 4 > missing (instead 1:45 - 1:51 = 2:30 - 2:35)
from 2:02 until end (video not synchronized, too late)
fredericrouel 1 year ago
How the fuck did he get this good?
TheLamb2 1 year ago
As a pianist he's a tad pretentious but he does make a bloody good deity
tommymacdonald 1 year ago
Comment removed
tommymacdonald 1 year ago
Arthur had excellent technique, but also the remarkable skills of improvisation. I have the impression that he was born with an instrument :-)
He's great!!
bemolikas 1 year ago
i love that transition at 0:56
JayIvory87 1 year ago
When playing at a club, the Great Fats Waller saw Art Tatum in the audience. It is said that he announced Art Tatum by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight you have been only listening to the pianist ... now God has walked in". Wonderful talent but I am sure good old Fats had more fun, and more women to make up for it !! Thanks for posting
burnt62 1 year ago
BRAVO! An unmatched and unequaled genius!
imnemigre 1 year ago
WOW! The master of all jazz pianists strikes again.
dnettles 1 year ago
this guy is fucking insane..
TheEmptyMindedPeople 2 years ago
GEnius.
TheAspergerman 2 years ago
è geniale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pazzopazzoide87 2 years ago
Art Tatum, Arthur Rubenstein...who are some of the other great pianists of the 20th century?
duckman531 2 years ago
@duckman531 my favorite would be art, but also oscar peterson
balljay22 2 years ago
richter, debussy, rachmaninov, van cliburn and those already mentioned
browny333 2 years ago
Yes! Yes!
duckman531 1 year ago
@duckman531 Oscar Peterson for example.
raymondothedoors 2 years ago
Sviatoslav richter is up there
blubblubcat 1 year ago
the first great jazz pianists are probably jelly roll morton, george gershwin, thomas fats waller.. those are ragtime and really intense stride- pianists ( look up what " stride-piano" means, if u do not already know its quite important, later, around 30ies, 40 and 50ies: peterson, bud powell, thelonious monk, horace silver, bill evans, mccoy tyner, a lil later, very famous jazzrock and funk- players : herbie hancock, chick corea and george duke.. o yea, i forgot; veeery important: keith jarrett
oldwarcraftgamer 1 year ago
I like your selections, oldwarcraftgamer, but you limited yourself strictly to jazz. Keith Jarrett is a very eclectic choice: doesn't read music, everything is improvised. Given your choice, could someone reasonably consider Thelonius Monk--a fascinating artist but quite unorthodox?
duckman531 1 year ago
well ok sry yea i tendet to jazz cuz its art tatum we re listening to^^ so i thought i just pass trough the jazz history with some of the bests, more or less chronologically..what do u think about monk exactly , plz write if u got some time , i would be really interested, that man is quite controversial,
greets
oldwarcraftgamer 1 year ago
I think Monk was a good composer. As a pianist I think he was more a stylist than a technician, whereas the greatest pianists are always both. My original point was that Tatum takes a back seat to NO pianist, jazz or classical, and that I think Tatum was one of the top 5 pianists who ever walked the planet. I just wanted to start a discussion to perhaps get opposing views and I loved all the comments of those who weighed in!
duckman531 1 year ago
Wonderful and rare!
Thanks for posting.
BrentAudi 2 years ago
By some type of miraculous miracle he had to be able to play a piano the first time he touched one, beacause its hard to believe that he started from scratch not knowing anything about it. I'm convinced that God taught him in the womb.
RICHARDMAXTY 2 years ago 2
you know, some people actually just plays piano from nothing. sviatoslav richter never played scales and the first piece he played on piano was chopin's nocturne, then an etude. bet tatum something like one of those impossibles.
jude4312 2 years ago 2
Its cool how he runs up the piano and strikes the top note so quickly...cool
LoSignorino 2 years ago 2
The Piano has 88 keys and an ordinary human 2 hands...how come he manages to sound like 4 hands playin'??!?!
Jumpmanmauro 2 years ago 7
So ahead of his time - just awesome
Proximaleous 2 years ago 7
I am laughing with delight like a child listening to this piece of music! oh it feels so nice hearing tatum play... mmm... mezzzmorising and ticklish is all I can say to describe it.. @ 1:44sec, love it
BluRondoAlaTurk 2 years ago 2
Genius! What a gift of music!!!!
mosaic05 2 years ago 17
amazing
EvanCrofton 2 years ago 4
Great!! Thanks for the video.
koliatima 2 years ago 2
The music more that another things has gave to the world great and truth values. Nice to find this in youtube.
syleriam 2 years ago
It is amazing what Tatum can do... I have heard Tea for Two done by other pianists. Have heard Tiger Rag played by different pianists but I have never heard anyone but Tatum play Humoresque. It is like every pianist is aware that he/she cannot ever play it like him so they stay away from it either out of respect or acknowledgement that they cannot play it any better than Tatum.
RJJazzman 2 years ago 3
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panelacosmica 2 years ago
:)
Just makes me smile
What a great guy he was
mahoose6 2 years ago 2
I believe that there is a a God ,,and he came down to play piano for a while!
law245 2 years ago 34
God wasn't black! He came down as a jewish guy who wasn't black either he looked like one of the beegies!!! The sick fella! Ha ha! Art Tatum Was amazing, he and Thelonious Monk are my favorite piano players. T.M. was "cool" but I'd rather have beers with Art Tatum! Amazing!!! I never saw a video of him till now, he looks like a big friendly bear!!!! I love it!!! Oh wait I forgot Jelly role and fats..... But he's still tops!!! Cheers-
jwellsfarrier 2 years ago
Friendly Bear LMAO !
panelacosmica 2 years ago
@law245 I really like that idea. makes me feel all warm inside. lol
brunostung 5 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Would all the piano nerds stop comparing O.P. to the great Art Tatum. Mentioning Petrerson's name in the same breath as Tatum's is ignorant and disrespectful. Tatum was not only a genius, but an INNOVATOR.
tadd1 2 years ago
This comment is also disrespectful and ignorant.
rdmo83 2 years ago 5
The only piano player I ever heard that came close to Art Tatum was the great Swing piano player Mel Powell.He used several Tatum devices in his mid late Forties period.Still no one to match Tatum however.
MARKMANIATT 2 years ago
Even Oscar Peterson was admitted being
fearful of Art Tatum's playing style.
Ghtthomps 2 years ago 3
I'l admit. I'm fearful of both of their styles...
BRazor78 2 years ago
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great skills, but soul is sacrified for the sake of technique
sandouk 3 years ago
great!!!
rmorfinq 3 years ago
great!
rmorfinq 3 years ago
Maybe the best that's ever lived.
Carterofmars 3 years ago 2
I'm playing tha piano for 25 years now. The last 10 professionaly. But now i'm gona quit! Thanks very much for posting this!
jtsak 3 years ago
Oscar Peterson nearly quit after hearing this man too, but look how great he beacame.
rdmo83 3 years ago
I remember seeing an interview with Les Paul, who said Art Tatum was the cause of him changing from piano to guitar. "When I heard him, I quit that very night!" he said.
crab5mt 2 years ago
8th wonder... God is in the House... whatever you wanna call the cat... His genius was unmatched... Tatum group masterpieces, a trio with Jo Jones and Red Callender... my fave
bongolicious 3 years ago 8
Oh yeah especially on that song called "Just one of Those Things". Check it out it's amazing.
BRazor78 2 years ago
That was the first Art Tatum recording i ever heard when i was a kid and i couldn't believe the speed of his playing, it blew me away.
What a genius
indigoba 2 years ago 2
Oscar was the only who can play as fast as Tatum (just listen one of his 70s recordings of "Sweet Georgia Brown" or "Caravan"), and when he was 14, he heard an Art Tatum recording and cried every night the next two months because he felt intimidated.
The two best piano players ever and they never recorded together (that could sound like four pianos)
OscarPetersonFan 3 years ago 6
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technique is not what makes a pianist good, its the musical mind, Peterson and Tatum are no where near the best ever most likely among the best, i dont think u can have a best..cause all have their distinctive quality's, and music is very subjective..my personal is ahmad jamal..
darkmaides 3 years ago
its all right to have favorites and i understand that you're trying to assert your opinion; however, dont be stupid and say that peterson and tatum were, "nowhere near the best." Their virtuosity and influence fills every corner of the jazz world and that cannot be denied
blah148 3 years ago 3
please share with me one of those corners...??
darkmaides 3 years ago
charlie parker washed dishes at a club before his career really started, and, as bird acknowledged, it was hearing people like tatum, and lester young that instigated his ideas on bebop-which obviously is still prevalent today.
blah148 3 years ago 3
czech republic - dvorak and usa - tatum RULEZ :D
MattMurdockCZ 3 years ago
Yes it is true the music of Art Tatum is no longer popular. But this is because nobody can play like Art Tatum. And it is ridiculous that there is not a film made about him since he is really the God of piano. Yes Oscar Pet. was/is brilliant and highly respected but he has no relation whatsoever with Art Tatum whose playing is just inconceivable by normal people.
And this is exactly why nobody even attempts to play his music. Because if he does, he would just ridicule himself.
Kostas Tzouve
arnellos888 3 years ago 5
There is a documentary out now called "Art Tatum, The art of Jazz Piano". Great film clips, and remembrances from colleagues.
ilovesteelydan 3 years ago
thank you!!
rdhtreject 3 years ago
I'm doing a project on the history of jazz for my English 110 class. I was wondering if anyone knows the date of this footage?
rdhtreject 3 years ago
I cannot guarantee that this is right but I think it is 1944.
avedwards 3 years ago
@avedwards 1950 (Faye Emerson Show)
schnittke79 1 year ago
Absolutely the best there ever was.... We miss you Art. You'll always be with us.
ilovesteelydan 3 years ago
Art Tatum is God when it truly comes to classical Jazz Piano playing.
Oldskoolmusiclvr62 3 years ago
he acctually plays tiger rag, its on youtube, really loverly just as all the other of his playing!
takkskalduha2 3 years ago
I Wish Art Tatum Would Play Ain't Misbehaving With Django Reinhardt, or Better Yet "Tiger Rag!"
Morahman7vnNo2 3 years ago
Who composed this? Is it an original?
GolumTR 3 years ago
Composer named Dvorak.
Z0751 3 years ago
Thanks.
GolumTR 3 years ago
It's based on a Dvorak composition, but it bears only a superficial resemblance to the original; Tatum definitely makes it his own.
polymath7 3 years ago 2
such talent. i wish i could know who he learned from. so much style
millions2nette 3 years ago
There's a movie about Ray Charles.. which with all due respect is a good film. but there isn't a movie about Art Tatum. Is it safe to say that actors today are afraid to take on the task of capturing the essence of Art Tatum. Jamie Foxx took on the challenge of playing the blind pianist Ray Charles but I doubt he'll sit at the piano take supreme command of the instrument like Tatum did all his life/career.
eccentricXXX 4 years ago 2
yes , i miss that too , Clint Eastwood makes a good Film about Charly Parker " Bird " , but there is no one about Art Tatum.
Okay his Musik is no longer popular, so a Film could be a Financially Risk .
Groek123 3 years ago
i'll take it on
chrisjordan83 3 years ago
Do you have this transkription's notes?
pianisamet 4 years ago
i do
chrisjordan83 3 years ago
yes seen yours , it's ok !
fingerscarr 3 years ago
Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum are apples and oranges. Nobody will ever touch Tatums virtuosity and inhuman touch. And nobody will ever swing like Peterson. I'm not saying Oscar doesn't have chops, because that would be idiotic. Just not like Tatum who must have been engineered by some mad scientist to play piano like nietzsche's superman.
thegoldcoast3737 4 years ago 2
Really enjoyed reading your well thought out comment. Oscar Peterson said when he was a teen he got the big head concerning his piano playing. Oscar's father introduced him to Art Tatum's "Tiger Rag"...the young Peterson was so overwhelmed with Tatum's virtuosity that he couldn't play for two months.
courageux28 3 years ago
I love it. It's like COGIC a little bit.
fatman11 4 years ago
True I thought I was the only that noticed.
rdmo83 3 years ago
Kinda made my jaw hang.
4lph4num3r1sm 4 years ago
He can't be existed!!! he's a robot!! Oh my god Art Tatum, in my modest opinion, have been the best piano player in the world, above any music genre!
effava 4 years ago
There is debate as to whether he was the best, or Liszt was.
sijemeurtcesoir 4 years ago
couldn't be liszt if he himself was intimidated by Alkan's playing, whom he said had the most perfect technique he'd witness. but, i know one thing...liszt had to be a badass considering the things he composed.
tdavis2797 3 years ago
Its true that Alkan had an excellent technique,
But the kind of difficulty needed to execute the Transcendental Etudes does not really show up in his work.
Also, it is said that Alkan was excellent technically, but a much more expressive player than Liszt.
Moot point really,
There are no recordings at all for us to compare, and people's judgments are so very subjective.
sijemeurtcesoir 3 years ago
bceugene,
What you said regarding OP may be true, but remember, without Art Tatum, they'd BE NO Oscar Peterson, by Oscar's own admission. He was Oscar's idol. Oscar is the Phish to Tatum's Dead.
slitheringinterstate 4 years ago
Tatum was exceptionally creative, a ture pioneer harmonically, and a monster technically, but I prefer OPs more subtle and nuanced stylings, which also have all the dazzling technicality of Tatum. Tatum plays at the same volume most of the time and re-uses a lot of devices despite his creativity.
bceugene 4 years ago 2
great video and playing, no doubt on his magnificent technique but i have to admit I prefer Oscar Peterson's style better ;)
sbyuri 4 years ago
Good Lord. I see where Johnny Costa gets it from. (pianist for Mr Roger's Neighborhood)
MrACartwright 4 years ago
on a side note i have a rare recording of tatum playing the chopin c# minor waltz. its absolutely atrocious classical playing. rhythm all over the place, lack of phrasing, no dynamic nuance whatsoever. it is fascinating listening though. send me a message if you want to hear it-brian
brianCIM 4 years ago
Why don't you add the track to a video and post it? I'm sure it's very interesting at the very least.
bluesinorbit 4 years ago
i want to but every time i try and post it it wont go through. i am not very good at this stuff but i will keep trying. there is a skip on my cd as well so i am considering buying it again. of course the other tracks on the CD are jaw-dropping a usual.
brianCIM 4 years ago
I wish people would stop comparing tatum to classical pianists like the horowitz/tatum debate. its pointless. if tatum had chosen to become a classical pianist think of what we would have lost. one of the greatest jazz minds of the century. if horowitz decided to play jazz we would have lost one of the most original classical minds of the century. when you get to this level of technique there is no best. both had technical control and reflexes of a kind that RARELY comes along.
brianCIM 4 years ago 4
ng nooit iemand zo goed piano horen spele
elien111 4 years ago
And then you have Bix, 20 years earlier, not playing coronet but on piano, playing modern jazz! Do I sound insane?
padleynj 4 years ago
thats not insane at all. all you have to do is listen to "In a Mist". the harmony is unbelievably advanced drawing from mainly impressionists like debussy and ravel. it also happens to be a gorgeous piece of music. what a tragedy that man died so young.
brianCIM 4 years ago
Around 0:20 and at 2:25 if that isn't "'Round Midnight" I'm deaf.... Tell me if I'm wrong. The seeds were there for modern jazz.
padleynj 4 years ago
TATUM KING OF KEYS
toms6810 4 years ago
Yes, Art Tatum and Vladimir Horowitz were said to be very good friends. When Tatum played "Tea for Two" one time, Horowitz replied when he was finished "How do you do that?" You can't really compare Horowitz and Tatum because they play two completely different types of music. Now, Horowitz playing ragtime and stride piano, that would be a sight to see. ;)
Goldenkitten4 4 years ago
I heard it this way: Horowitz played his own "arrangement" of "Tea for Two" for Tatum then Tatum played his (mostly improvised on the spot)for Horowitz. Horowitz then said to Tatum "That was fantastic! How long did it take you to come up with that? Tatum then replied "Well, I guess I've been playing about ten minutes". Ironic, though, in a book that I read of Horowitz' biography (sorry, can't remember the author's name) there is not one mention of Art Tatum.
wadekirtley 4 years ago
Ok, you're probably right, it had been awhile since I had read about it, so I guess my facts were a little bit off. So, I'll agree with what you wrote down. I knew that they were friends though, and something to do with Tea For Two, and Horowitz being amazed, just the basics, I suppose. BUt thank you for correcting me, the last thing I want to do is give out false information.
Goldenkitten4 4 years ago
As I've heard it: Horowitz wanted to come up with a "vernacular" musical encore for a concert tour, and he composed a series of theme and variations on "Tea." He played them for Tatum to get his opinion, and Tatum said something like, "Great! Tell me what you think of these." He played his own for H., and H. really dug them and said, "How long did it take you to write THOSE?" Tatum said something like, "I just did."
tuxguys 2 years ago 6
Liberace? What's going on down there?
bobjones864 4 years ago
Great video! Reading the comments below I tend to agree with boowoojo. Don't overthing or overanalyze Tatum! Just listen to the beauty of his music. As per comparing Monk and Tatum, that's not relevant. Tatum wins hands down on technique, Monk on originality.
Maxven 4 years ago
woah woah woah. Tatum wins on classical technique. Monk had perfect technique for his own style. Tatum just as original as thelonious monk, having known jazz theory 20 years ahead of his time early in the 30s. Thelonious monk was hugely influenced by the structure of chords by this guy, so i think it's ironic to say that monk was more original than tatum in that he used so much of Tatum's discoveries in theory.
KJShackx2 4 years ago
I don't think we're in that much of disagreeance. Tatum's the reason I got into jazz in the first place. Before hearing him, I had no appreciation for jazz. When I say that Tatum has superior technique compared to Monk, I meant it in the sense that for sheer equilibrism, I don't know a match for him.
By originality I meant to say that Monk wrote much of the music he played, and when he introduced his style few people appreciated it.
Maxven 4 years ago
Art Tatum always fascinates me, NOT because of his technique, but because of his musicality, empathy and love for the compositions. You always feel that Tatum really loved the tunes that he played.
boowoojo 4 years ago
With all the ragging about Tatum versus Horowitz, I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that Arturo Toscanini went to hear him play (often with his son in law Horowitz). Toscanini was yet another great artist that was mesmerized by the absolutely unique and unbelievable talent of Tatum. Long may we be in awe.
ipmoic 4 years ago
Music is not a competition, lmao
JackHammond 4 years ago 2
Tatum had the best stride left hand since Fats Waller. He was truly a pianistic genius.
ms918 4 years ago
Peterson had a mean left foot but Tatum was better in the air and at the back post. Monk woulda run rings round both of 'em
Camakazie07 4 years ago
Woaah are you kidding me?!??!! Thelonius Monk had awful technique he played SFP (Straight finger position) all the time. He's average in comparison to the 2 masters of jazz with superior technique Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.
shelim23 4 years ago
i cant watch monk play. he is an amazing genius but has probably the ugliest piano technique i have ever seen when it comes to jazz pianists. he stabs the keys. it looks painful actually. he was a musical genious though. no doubt
brianCIM 4 years ago
Thelonius Monk is a self taught Pianist that is why he plays that way.
improvvv 4 years ago
in some respects that is true, but MANY great pianists have completely natural techniques(Tatum is a prime example). he did have some classical training but the technical way he plays is so effortless and flawless it really cant be taught.
brianCIM 4 years ago
after teaching many years you realise some pianists hands some pianists hands just "look right" on the keyboard. incidentally my piano technician also works for peterson when he comes to cleveland and oscar practises excercises 3 hours a day. i guess with monk we have to seperate his pure musical genious from the mechanical. in this regard i agree with you
brianCIM 4 years ago
Are you joking?
Chalky2007 4 years ago
This seems like a flame
bceugene 4 years ago
Not necessesarily. oscar openly says that Art was his inspiration.
mimibyrd 4 years ago
damn you stupids you keep comparing piano-players why? you cant compare art with oscar it's a completely different style
HammondB200 4 years ago
Overheard once:
Jazz guy #1: Ehn, Oliver Jones is a poor man's Oscar Peterson.
Jazz guy #2: Yeah, but Oscar Peterson is a poor man's Art Tatum...
rottenhubert 4 years ago
Who's Oliver Jones?
MelonieBSweeney 4 years ago
A Canadian pianist...
rottenhubert 4 years ago
Why the silly classical V. Jazz argument? Tatum and Horowitz both had incredible technique, but totally different musical interests that are quite divergent. It's almost impossible to say how Tatum would have interpreted virtuoso classsical pieces (which no doubt he had the technique to play), or how Horowitz et al., would have improvved!! It's like arguing over whether such and such football player would also be great at rugby...
gert83 4 years ago
Well said. To be honest having listened to Tatum extensively (an I am an unabashed jazz fanatic) I think Tatum's ability is not only timeless but peerless regardless of genre he is one of the few pianist and musicians that can be said off. I will say I believe it is harder to be an accomplished jazz musician at an early age than it is to be a classical musician at a comparable early age.
geralddavis 4 years ago
Personally I don't think becoming a great classical pianist is any higher a calling than becoming a great jazz pianist. There are only a few people who could really be called great at either art form. Playing classical music has huge hurdles to get over to become good. But so does playing jazz. Impov is a huge hurdle. As for Art Tatum, no need for debate. The man was at the top of his craft, a true master that didn't take anything away from anybody and nobody can take anything away from him.
demented20 4 years ago 2
Classical pianists are constrained in interpreting music they play. A classical song by different pianists sounds the same, with minor variation in tonality. Enter Jazz. It is all about improvisation, owning the music and making it yours. A jazz pianist has to have superior piano skills and sublime sense of improvisation to interpret music on the fly. This dual excellence makes the jazz pianist the superior one. The great classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz was in awe of Art Tatum.
Agdoobai 4 years ago
It's a shame you didn't mention that improvising is often a lot easier because you build your own musical phrases, in contrast of classical music where you have to play someone else's. By the way, you can easily notice that during long runs with the right hand, jazz pianist tend to be unable to play anything along with the left one.
I think both styles are great to master, I don't see the point comparing them and lifting one above the other.
Robinho66 4 years ago
I,think your comment here is one of the sane ones ,even though, we are all demented here and the reason for all this,is self inclusive ego , and that don't make music, lets all just keep listening to these greats and hold our peace, ...next....
DYNODRUM 2 years ago
Hmm, interesting comparison.
In all my listening to Liberace I've found him to be a little careless sometimes. Surely not because I can play as well as him but I've played enough and listened to many many records so I can at least make reasonable comparisons.
I think it's unfortunate Liberace eclipsed one of his influences who was actually better, in my opinion... Carmen Cavallaro (of The Eddy Duchin Story fame).
But I digress, Art Tatum had amazing technique, to be sure. :)
amazinrick 4 years ago
Thanks for the response, I've learned something new. You're right, he's careless, flawlessly careless and I think he plays over-the-top because that's what his audience wanted. I just marvel at his precision and versatility. Youtube search Liberace-The Muppet show and you'll see what I mean.
gutiep 4 years ago
How does Tatum compare to Liberace? What impresses me about Liberace is that he can play ANY music spectacularly and I never saw him make a mistake, of what I've seen.
gutiep 4 years ago
There is no comparison... Art Tatum was far superior to Liberance
cutiewithabooty25 4 years ago
Youtube search Liberace-The Muppet show and tell me if you still feel the same. Liberace's precision and versatility are unmatchable.
gutiep 4 years ago
Apart from the fact that he was far from Tatum's level?
Chalky2007 4 years ago
Eek - everyone seems to be so caught up in this Horowitz/Tatum debate that it's eclipsed how brilliantly this guy is playing jazz! Why doesn't my left hand move like that?!?!
saundersjazz 5 years ago
I agree completely. Let's settle for his marvellous jazz playing and leave it at that. No need to make speculation about whether he would have been a great classical player had he gone into that or whether he would have been a fine pool player or ventriloquist. He achieved THIS in THIS field and that's more than enough for me.
cziffra1980 5 years ago
laughed out at the left hand comment. So true. His left better than my right....what a legend
edwai17 4 years ago
Tatum, for obvious reasons, never SAW a piece of sheet music in his life. Horowitz, Van Cliburn or whom-have-you, eventually committed the written notes to memory and could essay a classical piece with consummate skill. HOWEVER, not one of these "longhairs" could begin to sit down on a bench (like Art and Oscar) and display such inborn genius, without the notes.
LawrenceDavis 5 years ago
So jazz 'wins' over classical? Actually Horowitz was a fabulous improviser like Cziffra (and many great classical players). Why all the comparisons? Great jazz players improvise notes. Great classical players improvise with the sound and phrasing that is applied to the notes (fuck 'consumate skill'! that's for everyday competition players). What is the deal with the urge to make a contest?
cziffra1980 5 years ago 3
I had a great response to this, but it was way too long winded to post. In short my argument is that if the two went up against each other Tatum would stand a better chance in classical than Horowitz would in Jazz. However, if you wrote down on paper what Tatum plays and gave them each a week to learn a piece, I believe Horowitz would win. You have to remember that to these guys the speed that makes Tatum look amazing is not really relevant.
cab03004 5 years ago