Artist:Art Tatum
Song:Humoresque
Album:The Art of Tatum
This is another in my series Jazz for Beginners complete with a performance video and a CD appropriate for beginners. Pianist Art Tatum is one of the greats of early jazz. Though he performed from 1932 until his 1956 death, his main body of recordings was when he recorded solo for Decca from 1933-40. Tatum was born Oct. 13, 1909 in Toledo, OH. His father was a mechanic and his mother was a maid. Tatum's vision was impaired at infancy probably by cataracts. After several operations, he had partial vision. Tatum taught himself to play piano. He played by ear and had an excellent memory. He learned songs by listening to the radio. As a teen, he played piano at parties. Tatum's main influence was the stride piano of James P, Johnson along with Fats Waller and Earl Hines. After winning a 1927 amateur competition, he got his own show on Toledo radio station WSPD. He played clubs at night. As word started to spread about Tatum, Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson stopped by to give encouragement. Then singer Adelaide Hall saw Tatum when she played Toledo and brought him to New York to be in her band. Soon after his arrival in New York, Tatum participated in a cutting contest at Morgan's in Harlem with stride piano masters Johnson, Waller and Willie "The Lion" Smith. All were impressed with Tatum and he became good friends with Waller. Tatum first recorded for Brunswick Records in 1933. His recording of Tiger Rag was a minor hit. Then he had a residency at the Three Deuces in Chicago. Then Tatum moved to California. He played clubs followed by late night sessions accompanied by heavy drinking. Tatum was diabetic so the drinking would become a problem later. So at this point, Tatum was recording for Decca and performing in major clubs. in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. He was afraid of flying so he always traveled by train. He and his wife even spent three months in England in 1938. Tatum continued to record for Decca. But many of the recordings weren't released at the time because big bands were more popular. Many of Tatum's recordings received awards decades later. But at that time, he wasn't popular. You can get Tatum's Decca recordings on this comp from the reissue label ASV/Living Era. Tatum made a good living from his club performances. He even had a trio with guitarist Tiny Grimes and bassist Slam Stewart in the mid 40s. But his records were never big sellers. By the late 40s, he was a regular on Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series. He recorded for Capitol in 1949. The rise of bebop did him no favors as Tatum wasn't interested in it. Tatum recorded for Granz' Clef label in the 50s. All Granz did was start the tape and Tatum played what he wanted. There were 14 LPs called The Genius of Art Tatum. It generated renewed interest in him. But then his health deteriorated. After Granz had Tatum play a 1956 Hollywood Bowl show, he died on Nov. 5, 1956 at age 47. Today Tatum is considered to be one of the all time jazz greats and likely underappreciated in his prime. Here's Art Tatum performing Humoresque.
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