[78-L] Art Tatum 100th birthday

[yves francois]

Al
agree 100% - the few occasions he played good "swing" music or relaxed after hours places shows the REAL talent - the other stuff is just so much bull you know what. I mentioned the session on a response to Taylor of the Decca session w Joe Thomas, I do like him there, as well as some duets w Frankie Newton on a private recording - though Newton really takes the honors - Art can play great, when he was not trying to impress - I personally hate those runs etc
Yves

--- On Wed, 10/14/09, simmonssomer <simmonssomer at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: simmonssomer <simmonssomer at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Art Tatum 100th birthday
> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 10:23 AM
> You're not missing a thing. Those
> runs are intrusive and overused.
> The constant key changes are showy stuff.
> He was an incredible technician and had the talent to be a
> great stride or 
> swing pianist.
> He was both but he was too damned busy at the keyboard .
> It intruded on the message.
> 
> Al Simmons