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Tommy Flanagan

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Tommy Flanagan was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was born in Detroit in 1930, the youngest of six children. He began on clarinet, but soon chose piano. Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson and Nat King Cole were his first models, followed by bebop, above all through Bud Powell. In Detroit he played with Kenny Burrell, Pepper Adams and Donald Byrd, among others.

Music and breakthrough

In 1956 he moved to New York. Within a few months he was recording with Miles Davis and on Sonny Rollins's Saxophone Colossus. In 1957 he made his first album of his own in Sweden, Overseas, with the bassist Wilbur Little and the drummer Elvin Jones. In May 1959 he played on John Coltrane's Giant Steps, and in 1960 on Wes Montgomery's The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery. From 1962 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1978 he was Ella Fitzgerald's pianist, in the last years also her musical director. He was not a vocal accompanist who stayed in the background: during her concerts he often played a trio set of his own.

Influence

After leaving Fitzgerald he built a reputation as a leader of piano trios, including with the bassist George Mraz and later Peter Washington. The album The Tommy Flanagan Tokyo Recital from 1975 was his first as a leader since 1960. His playing was known for its elegance and control: he played the melody with respect, yet changed it all the same. At his death in 2001 he was regarded as one of the most admired jazz pianists, also among his colleagues.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Giant Steps by John Coltrane and notice Flanagan's piano among the rapidly changing chords. Can you hear where he sounds uncertain?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists