Art Tatum: The Piano God-Classic Jazz Archive

Read About This Recording

To call Art Tatum the piano god is not an overstatement. Tatum's technique was so phenomenal, his speed often so blinding and his harmonic ideas so advanced that in the 1930s he simply had no competitors. He even dwarfed the playing of James P. Johnson, Fats Waller and Earl Hines and, 70 years later, his recordings still amaze pianists.

Art Tatum was nearly blind throughout most of his life and he was based in Ohio early on. Unsure whether he should take a chance and move to New York, Tatum was in semi-obscurity in the late 1920s though touring jazz musicians told others about his wondrous abilities. He finally went East as a sideman with singer Adelaide Hall with whom he made his first recordings. When Tatum began to record unaccompanied solo performances, including an incredible version of Tiger Rag, he made a permanent impact on jazz.

The two-CD set The Piano God has nearly all of Tatum's recordings of 1932-40 including a few combo numbers and his performances with Hall. Most of the selections are examples of his solo piano work at its most exciting including Tiger Rag, I Would Do Anything For You, The Shout, Liza, After You've Gone and The Sheik Of Araby.

Art Tatum would record other classic performances through the mid-1950s but it is his earliest recordings that are most amazing, making this an essential acquisition. Even now, no pianist can play at this level.

-Scott Yanow

Quotes

There is no such thing as a wrong note. -Art Tatum

Contents

Imported from Europe!

Tiger Rag: Strange As it Seems; I'll Never Be the Same; You Gave Me Everything But Love; This Time It's Love; Tea for Two; St. Louis Blues; Tiger Rag; Sophisticated Lady; Moonglow; I Would Do Anything for You; When a Woman Loves a Man; Emaline; Love Me; Cocktails for Two; Ill Wind; The Shout; Liza; I Would Do Anything for You; When a Woman Loves a Man; Humoresque: After You've Gone; Star Dust; Beautiful Love; Liza; Body and Soul; With Plenty of Money and You (Oh! Baby What I Couldn't Do); What Will I Tell My Heart; I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm; Gone With the Wind; Stormy Weather; Chloe; The Sheik of Araby; Tea for Two; Deep Purple; Elegie; Humoresque; Sweet Lorraine; Get Happy; Lullaby of the Leaves.

Art Tatum, Francis Carter, Pianos; Charlie Teagarden, Lloyd Reese, Trumpets; Jimmy Dorsey, Marshall Royal, Clarinets; Dick McDonough, Bill Perkins, Guitars; Adelaide Hall, Vocals; Joe Bailey, Standup Bass; Oscar Bradley, Drums; Art Tatum's Swingsters.

Includes 20-page book.