The history of jazz is filled with brilliant pianists—Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, and Thelonious Monk, to name a few—so labeling any one of them “the greatest” is risky business. But from a technical standpoint at least, Art Tatum (1909-56) was certainly that. Born blind in one eye, with very limited vision in the other, Ohio native Tatum's name is still uttered with reverence by musicians of all stripes. As the abundant musical (and some visual) evidence featured in this fascinating documentary reveals, Tatum's chops were simply astonishing. And since he employed a self-taught technique involving laying his fingers flat on the keyboard (as opposed to the bent-fingered style used by most others), which made it look as if he was barely moving his hands, those who saw Tatum couldn't believe he was playing what they were hearing. His performances here on tunes like “St. Louis Blues,” “Tiger Rag,” “Sweet Lorraine,” and many others, offer a showcase for his unique approach to rhythm and harmony; effortless use of glissandi, arpeggios, flowery runs, and other ornamentations; sheer speed; and seemingly boundless improvisational skills. Tatum was so good, in fact, that other musicians could hardly keep up, so the bulk of his most famous work was performed solo (a 1943 trio with bassist Slam Stewart and guitarist Tiny Grimes was an exception). A couple of bits of film, including a jam with the Dorsey Brothers band, are priceless, but the music clips, despite sounding a bit dated, are the real motherlode here, rounded out with comments from guitarist Les Paul (who gave up the piano after hearing Tatum play), pianist Hank Jones, Tatum's brother, and others. A treat for musicians and music lovers alike, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
Art Tatum: The Art of Jazz Piano
(2008) 60 min. DVD: $14.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 6
Art Tatum: The Art of Jazz Piano
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