Art Tatum

October 13th – Art Tatum’s birthday.  In 2012 there is 104 years since he was born.


Art Tatum – a versatile, extraordinary, gifted and genius jazz pianist,
Improvisation phenomenon and new jazz style promoter or activist.
Art’s style – harmonically rich and technically velocious, accelerated.
Each time he improvised to the extent no one could have anticipated.

Art synthesized styles like boogie-woogie, swing, classical, jazz, stride.
Experimenting, improvising for him was an adventure and/or fun ride.
It was very expressive, inspirational, dramatic, productive and speedy.
Tatum was ahead of other pianists, musicians, professionally leading.

He was enormously creative, innovative, sharp, vivacious, optimistic.
While technically superior, generosity contributed to his characteristic.
He taught some people by sharing his experience, skill and technique.
Tatum’s approach, style was sophisticated, intuitive, inventive, unique.

Using a full spectrum of the keyboard, Tatum pursued his imagination.
His chord progressions and substitution were perceived as a sensation.
His background in classical piano playing helped Tatum hone his skills.
When listening to him, people experienced excitement and/or chills.

No matter how Tatum interpreted or improvised selected music, song,
Maintaining main tune, melody, he had never been off base or wrong.
He polished melodies blending it with a harmonic variance or a variety.
Tatum delivered the state-of-the-art piano playing with daring novelty.

He made his playing sound simple, easy, effortless, yet it was complex.
Tatum employed his perfect pitch, manual dexterity, rhythm and reflex.
He genuinely manifested playfulness, joy, freedom, humor and finesse.
Art had accomplished his mission, calling, childhood dream, fate’s quest.

October 13th – birthday of Art Tatum, we still appreciate his originality,
Light spirit, drive, innovation, artistry, vast arsenal of skills, universality.
Art’s recognized for virtuosity, right timing, distinct language, precision.
The best jazz solo pianist successfully communicated, fulfilled his vision.


Copyright©2012 Mila Alper


* Photo is from the Internet