Many jazz pianists consider Art Tatum (1910-1956) as their unsurpassed
master. I have a shellac record featuring Art Tatum (CBS Mono 62615),
and I think these two extracts from the record's sleeve might interest
you:
1) By another famous jazz pianist, Bill Evans:
"An old friend of Tatum once told me that the reason why Tatum had
developed his amazing technique and his bedrock left-hand foundation
is that he had shaped his style after a player-piano ! He just hadn't
realized that some of the perforated rolls actually featured two
pianists, one of them playing the left-hand part !
"This man swears the story is true, and I believe it. I can't think
of anybody else taking up such a challenge. Tatum was fantastic".
2) Tatum certainly learned how to play. Here are the words of the
famous French violin player Stephane Grapelli (who was also a very good
pianist):
"In the early thirties, I was working at Le Touquet (N.B.: a very
fashionable beach on the Channel, facing England) with Gregor's
band, and it was the fist time you could hear recorded music in
the open air.
"One day, I thought I was hearing two pianists playing "Tiger Rag".
I rushed into the booth to find out who was playing. The man in
charge looked at the label on the record and said : "You are right,
there are two pianists: Art and Tintin!"
(N.B.: Tintin is the world-famous hero of a cartoon series by the
Belgian writer Herge', but that was well after the 1930's !).
"Back in Paris, I went to a record shop and found out that "Tiger Rag"
had been recorded by a single pianist. His name was Art Tatum".
Now please, listen carefully to Art Tatum's playing !
(Hey, Robbie, you *can* do that too! When I was at your home listening
from another room to your playing, I would have sworn that you had a
twin brother.) Just imagine two Robbie Rhodes playing together.
Waoooh ! Not enough keys on the keyboard.
[ Not enough hands, either! -- Robbie
Best regards,
Philippe Rouille (Paris, France)
rouille@cnam.fr
http://www.cnam.fr/museum/musica_mecanica/
|
