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Art Tatum
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Art Tatum, from Toledo, Ohio, was almost blind and learned to play the piano by ear; he named Fats Waller as his great example. In 1932 he moved to New York, where in 1933 he recorded his first solos, with a lightning-fast Tiger Rag. His technique was so great that fellow pianists were astonished by it. Tatum mostly played well-known songs and filled them with fast runs, unexpected modulations and reharmonisations: new chords under an existing melody. That harmonic freedom inspired the bebop musicians. From 1953 to 1955 he recorded more than a hundred solo pieces for the producer Norman Granz. He died in 1956 of kidney disease.
Listening
Tiger Rag · Art Tatum, 1933
Tea for Two · Art Tatum, 1939
Willow Weep for Me · Art Tatum, 1953
Discography
Studio albums
- 1940Decca Presents Art Tatum in an Album of Piano Solos
- 1944Piano solos
- 1950Art Tatum
- 1950Art Tatum
- 1950Piano Solos Vol. 2
- 1954Tatum, Carter, Bellson
- 1954Art Tatum
- 1954Art Tatum
- 1954Art Tatum
- 1955Art Tatum
- 1955Art Tatum
- 1955Art Tatum
- 1955Art Tatum
- 1956The Tatum Touch
- 1958Makin' Whoopee
- 1968Piano Starts Here
- 1973God Is in the House: Original 1940-41 Recordings
- 1974Art Tatum
- 1975Art Tatum
- 1975The Tatum Group Masterpieces
- 1976… Again! – The Tatum Group Masterpieces
- 1979Lasting Impressions
- 1988Solos 1937 & Classic Piano Solos
- 1991In Private
- 1992Rare Test Pressings and Transcriptions 1932–1951
- 1994California Melodies
- 1995The Art of Tatum
- 2000Begin the Beguine
- 2000Get Happy
- 2000Midnite Jazz & Blues: Art's Blues
- 2002Swings
- 2003Art Tatum
- 2006The Album
- 2006The Tatum Group Masterpieces
- 2009Art Tatum
- 2025Blue Skies
- ?Jazz Giants
Other work
- 1933Tiger Rag
- 1939Tea for Two
- 1953–1955The Tatum Solo Masterpieces
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Jazz MapNL Map
- After Hours: Session 2NL Reader
- Magazine: Rent parties en strideNL Magazine
Mentioned in other articles
- Stride piano Genre
In the 1930s, Art Tatum took the technique to an unprecedented speed and harmonic richness.