Home » Jazz News » Radio

184

Art Tatum: The Group Masterpieces

Source:

Sign in to view read count
This week Night Lights pays a centennial tribute to jazz piano giant Art Tatum, whose immense virtuosic talent made it nearly impossible for other musicians to keep up with him. Near the end of his life Tatum recorded a series of albums with musicians such as Benny Carter and Ben Webster that provide an unparalleled opportunity to hear the pianist with colleagues that could, to varying degrees, hold their own with him. Still, it was Tatum who dominated the proceedings. “It was a game between us of ‘Can you top this?’” clarinetist Buddy DeFranco later recalled. “He’d play some astonishing figure and laugh, or turn and make a face at me over one shoulder…I think he could have outwitted Charlie Parker.”

Continue Reading...

Visit Website

Comments

Tags

News

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.