[78-L] Tatum

[Spats]

Hi Taylor!

Certainly, there are moments when technique seems to take over.

He himself once complained that he HAD to play that fast or the 
critics would say that he was losing it, HOWEVER, apart from the 
speed, he SWINGS all the time and, simultaneously, is inventing new 
ideas that were WAY ahead of his time both rhythmically and 
harmonically. If you want to hear him at slower speed, get the LP 
called God Is In The House. It contains private recordings of late 
night playing 'after hours' when he doesn't have to show off.

It's wonderful.

Also, hear his playing on the New York Town Hall concert of 1945 with 
a rhythm section of Al Casey-g, Sid Carlett-d and Oscar Pettiford-b. 
Sensational!

Art Tatum? Still THE Jazz pianist...even if Duke Ellington was THE 
piano player! ;-)

Earl.
>  When a record of his is over...I don't feel any sense of
>  satisfaction....more like exhaustion.
>
>  But year after year you read that he is the "greatest" piano player in jazz,
>  blah blah blah.
>
>  To me his playing  seems more like a stunt than music ...cold, clinical and
>  machine like...disigned to get into the Guinness Book of Records as "most
>  piano notes played in ten seconds."
>
>  So Tatum fans...tell me what it is I'm missing.
>
>
>  Taylor