Birthday Greetings Art “Too Marvelous for Words” Tatum, Jr.
🎂Art Tatum, Jr., born October 13, 1909 in Toledo, Ohio, was a Jazz pianist. He was, unfortunately, born with cataracts that blinded one eye and severely diminished sight in the other. This child prodigy, at the age of three, began playing the piano by listening to piano roll recordings and radio broadcasts. Unknowingly, at that early age, Art was listening to duet recordings. At the age of six, Art could play both parts of duets simultaneously. This helped him to develop a lightning-quick playing style that was accurate and effortless. Very few musicians could keep up with Art’s fast tempos and complicated harmonies, so he tended to record solo.
Art played professionally in Ohio, particularly Cleveland, until he moved to NYC in 1932 to accompany vocalist Adelaide Hall. He made numerous recordings for Decca Records (1934-41) and Capital (1949, 1952).
In the early 1940’s, Tatum started a trio with bassist Slam Stewart, Tiny Grimes on guitar, and later Everett Barksdale, guitarist. They demonstrated exceptional melodic interplay on several 78 rpm discs. James P. Johnson and Fats Waller were his role models. Tatum, in turn, greatly influenced Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, and Chick Corea, amongst others. Art Tatum was a master pianist whose virtuosity stymied both classical and jazz musicians. Self-taught, and essentially blind, his bi-tonal chord combinations would zing with exceptional power sans a rhythm section. After all, he really was playing for two… and his name is Art!