Get Happy (Art Tatum)

off Art Tatum's Finest Hour cd.

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[rotatingwah]

thanks *****

[anonymoose711]

My pleasure!

[BeBopElmo]

The master at work. In a league of his own. It's the combo of chops, sound, ideas, and harmonic originality combined with an incredible driving stride swing when he wanted to swing. There was only one Art Tatum. I grew up listening to this track and am only first coming to appreicate it. Thanks for reminding me of his musical contrubution.

[cbird66]

I've heard he learned to play along with the player piano

in his families living room...no one told him the rolls were for four hands. 'Suppose it didn't matter much.

[brendanmcooney]

damn you art tatum. I've been shedding my transcription of this recording for 2 years and it's still kicking my butt. i can't believe how well Tatum swings at this tempo. Simply unreal.

[vova47]

@sanjosemike That's a chip shot at Rachmaninoff who was not only one of greatest composers but also the greatest pianist of his time. Art Tatum had all the technique needed for what he played and tried to express but there's nothing in his recording output to suggest that he was equal to the mighty 3rd Concerto for example that encompasses all the piano technique. But even if it were true, would he do Rachmaninoff justice emotionally ? Maybe he would have to sweat a bit after all.

[sanjosemike]

The Rachmininoff Prelude "hint" occurs at 2:36. It is in the left hand, and was undoubted put there as a joke. But, then again...Art certainly had the technique to play anything by Rachmaninoff, and he probably wouldn't have even gathered a sweat...sanjosemike

[bbarr6323]

I read that Rachmaninoff's opening for Prelude in C# minor is quoted somewhere in this piece. Can anybody identify it? It's supposed to be flat submediant-dominant-tonic. It seems to me that this happens at 1:00-1:05....

[methu124]

Please note, credman, that these are the true times by the counter; you have to coordinate my comments with the times on the video progress bar because the automatic tabs by the blue hyperlinks are not perfectly accurate (as much as one second off)! Let me know what you think about the musical devices I mention. God bless.

[methu124]

Hi, sir. Yes, most of the "juiciest" devices are in the C sections starting at 0:37, 1:03, 1:30, 1:56 and 2:23, respectively! The harmonic pivots with the left thumb on the G flat occur for the FIRST chorus at 0:39 (he doesn't hold it @0:42-0:43), for the SECOND chorus @1:05-1:06 (faint initial attack), for the THIRD chorus @1:31-1:32 and 1:35, for the FOURTH chorus @1:58 and 2:01, and for the FIFTH and final chorus the SMOOTHEST one of all (almost sounding like one continuous note) @2:25.

[credman]

Can you point out what time in the recording this occurs? For those of us that don't have your amazing ear.

[methu124]

The song seems to follow the form A - B - C - A. Note what Art does consistently with the C section with its rapid-fire chord progression along the circle-of-fifths: F - B flat - E flat -A flat (which contains the note G flat as its dominant 7th). What's remarkable is how he keeps the G flat and nails it down, using it as a pivot to the next chord (D) for which it becomes the major third! That's a delicious, seldom-heard harmonic twist! Also, dig his exquisite left thumb work.