In the jazz history, and probably in the whole music history; the most technical pianist ever Art Tatum (1909-1956) was blind since birth. In truth, his one eye was completely blind, and the other was hardly able to see the beautiful girls only. Only "phenomenon" can be said for Art Tatum; because there isn't anybody to become speechless over against his technique. Just as Leopold Godowsky was flabbergasted when he heard him; and (Vladimir) Horowitz who often listened to Art Tatum's performances, once said that: "I could sacrifice lots of things just for being able to play as the half of him."Famous conductors, like Toscanini, Koussevitzky, Stokowski and Fritz Reiner were fans of Tatum, and it was well-known that Toscanini was sometimes being late to his concerts because of listening to Art Tatum. One story about Tatum was that; when he was a small boy he listened to a song which was performed by two pianos, and he shaped his own technique according to this. Also, when I played back the song "Tiger Rag" -which Art Tatum recorded on 1933-, to a classical pianist who has an abnormal technique; he flabbergasted and said that: "There are such passages present that, it's impossible to play without a third hand!"
Art Tatum plays "Yesterdays"
Art Tatum was a true genius accepted by either jazz or classical, but all musicians. For example, Herbie Hancock once said that: "Lots of things he did 'harmonically' is further than we did; and we couldn't success to solve some of his secrets."
Art Tatum created his own style by combining Earl Hines, Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson. His influences to Oscar Peterson and Monty Alexander is obvious; and especially by his influence to Bud Powell, we see Art Tatum survived up to the present date. In brief, there's some "Art Tatum" in every pianist, even in present also; in other words: "there's effort to try to make what Art Tatum did"- probably this is more accurate.
-Cüneyt Sermet
Source: "Caz'ın İçinden - Cüneyt Sermet"
Pan Publishing, 1990 (ISBN: 975-7652-08-3)
Translated by Johnny Cage
A "Tiger Rag" performance by Art Tatum
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