March 23, 2017

Yes there was Jelly Roll Morton and Earl Hines and others before him but on BBR piano week, it starts here: Arthur “Art” Tatum, Jr. is the best piano player of all time. Period. Although not completely blind his literal vision was almost totally obscured. Even more so after a beating he took in 1930. But, his vision of 88 keys on a piano was absolute. Not much video exists of him but in the few that do the wonders of the sounds he makes are complemented by how little effort he seems to exert. This is a guy who played so well even other world class instrumentalists said they couldn’t play with him because they couldn’t add to what he did.  Art himself said a band only slowed him down. Art Tatum kicks off piano week here at the site.