Jazzipedia's Favorites - Our Feature Artists for the next few weeks

• Art Tatum - Even Charlie Parker Washed Dishes To Hear Him

  

  Art Tatum was born was born on Oct 13, 1909 and died Nov 5, 1956. Teddy Wilson said: "Maybe this will explain Art Tatum. If you put a piano in a room, just a bare piano. Then you get all the finest jazz pianists in the world and let them play in the presence of Art Tatum. Then let Art Tatum play...everyone there will sound like an amateur. Pianists with regular styles will sound like beginners. Art Tatum played with such superiority that he was above style. It is almost like a golfer who can hit a hole in one every time he picks up the iron. It was a special kind of ability he had. If I had to choose an all ‘round instrumentalist’, in a classical vein, or in a more modern vein, I'd choose Art Tatum."

  Art had so many ways to harmonize in his head that Charlie Parker worked in a club for two weeks washing dishes just so he could listen to Art. Some say that it was after listening to Art, that Parker was able to connect some of the dots that improved his harmonic ideas.

  Art's abilities were legendary, so much so that it was not unusual to see Vladamir Horowitz, Leopold Stokowski or George Gershwin in the audience. Art would readily credit that he learned a great deal from Fats Waller; but even Waller himself once alerted his audience to Tatum's presence by saying, “I just play the piano, but God is in the house tonight.”

  There are many musicians that would hesitate to share their knowledge, but Art was generous. Other fine musicians such as Les Paul and Eddie Durham took advantage of Tatum's willingness to share his ideas. Art was willing to teach anyone, he just asked that they supply the beer.

  Duke Ellington - The Artist That Used Music As His Paintbrush

  

  Arguably the most prolific writer and arranger in Jazz's 100 year history, Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington emerges as one that could swing with the best of them, as well as provide a lush array of musical portraits. Duke excelled in many ways; He was an excellent pianist, a supurb arranger, an inexhaustible writer and an excellent band leader and showman.

  It was because of his sophisticated demeanor that Ellington was nicknamed the 'Duke'. This classy musician wrote literally thousands of songs while maintaining a whirlwind touring schedule.

  Ellington was unique in that he actually shaped his music to fit his outstanding soloists, even using Adelaide Hall in wordless vocalization in his huge hit "Creole Love Call".

  Hundreds of Ellington's scores became jazz standards. His classics include "Mood Indigo", "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", "Prelude to a Kiss", "Solitude", "Sophisticated Lady", "Take the A Train", and "Black and Tan Fantasy".

  Ellington was born April 29, 1899 and died May 24, 1974, having stayed at the top of his craft for over 55 years.