Art Tatum (1909–1956) was an American jazz pianist who was considered by many to be the greatest jazz pianist of all time. He was renowned for his virtuosity, improvisational genius, and vast knowledge of jazz and popular music. He was a master of stride, swing, and boogie-woogie piano styles, and his playing was often characterized by an astonishing technical facility and a unique harmonic sensibility. He composed and performed many of his own works, as well as arrangements of popular and jazz standards. His recordings, particularly his solo piano recordings, are considered among the greatest in jazz history.
| Name | Art Tatum |
| Born | October 13, 1909 |
| Genre | Jazz, Swing |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1920-1956 |
| Labels | Vocalion, Decca, Capitol, Asch, National, Columbia, Brunswick |
| Associated acts | Lionel Hampton, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson |
| Notable works | Tea for Two, I Got Rhythm, Tiger Rag, Humoresque |
10 Best Art Tatum Quotes
1.
“I guess it was just natural for me to be a musician.”
– Art Tatum, from Jazztimes
2.
“I never had a teacher, I just kept playing and playing.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
3.
“I’m just a piano player. I don’t bother to ask myself why I do certain things.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
4.
“My hands have always been very large and I guess I move them around on the piano pretty good.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
5.
“I guess I made up my own style.”
– Art Tatum, from The Art Tatum Society
6.
“I don’t think I’m any different from any of the other jazz pianists. I just play my own way.”
– Art Tatum, from The Art Tatum Society
7.
“I never had a lesson in my life.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
8.
“I think a musician has to be born with a natural feeling for music.”
– Art Tatum, from The Art Tatum Society
9.
“I guess I just try to play the way I hear things.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
10.
“I just like to play the piano and see what happens.”
– Art Tatum, from Jazztimes
5 Inspirational Art Tatum Quotes
“I try to find the good things in a piece of music, and I guess that’s what I do when I’m playing.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“I’m just trying to please myself and the folks who are listening.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“I just play as I feel it.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“I don’t know. I never had any ambition. I just wanted to play the piano.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“I don’t know any other way to play. I just try to play what I hear.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
6 Famous Art Tatum Quotes
“I don’t copy the works of other musicians, I just use them as a starting point.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
“I don’t think of jazz as a type of music, but as a way of playing music.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
“The piano gives me more freedom to express what I want to say than any other instrument.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
“I just try to play the piano as best I can. I don’t care what kind of music it is.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
“I don’t have any preference for one kind of music over another. I just like to play.”
– Art Tatum, from Discogs
“I just listen to the melody and let it take me where it wants to go.”
– Art Tatum, from Discogs
6 Art Tatum Quotes About Love
“Ain’t nothing in this world like love, when it’s right it’s right.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“Love is a wonderful thing.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“Love is the greatest thing in the world.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“Love is the sweetest thing in the world.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“Love is the greatest thing in the world, and it’s the only thing that matters.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
“Love is the most important thing in life.”
– Art Tatum, from YouTube
5 Art Tatum Quotes About Life
“The only thing in life that I think is worthwhile is to learn and to keep learning.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
“You can’t be a good pianist unless you have a good ear.”
– Art Tatum, from All About Jazz
“I guess the thing that has helped me the most is my determination to make the best of whatever I’m doing.”
– Art Tatum, from Jazz Guitar
“I never let myself get too far away from my natural inclinations.”
– Art Tatum, from Jazz Guitar
“I believe that to be original, you must first be deeply rooted in tradition.”
– Art Tatum, from Jazz Guitar
6 Quotes About Art Tatum
“Tatum’s control of the keyboard was awesome…”
– Ted Gioia, from Ted Gioia website
“Tatum’s improvisations, though based on familiar tunes, were so complex and so original that they often sounded like entirely new compositions.”
– Ted Gioia, from Ted Gioia website
“Art Tatum was the greatest ever.”
– Oscar Peterson, from AllMusic website
“He was the most spectacular piano player who ever lived.”
– Gene Krupa, from AllMusic website
“Tatum was a pianist of such dazzling virtuosity and imagination that only a handful of other musicians can approach him.”
– Scott Yanow, from AllMusic website
“His technique was staggering and his harmonic sense was almost superhuman.”
– Leonard Feather, from AllMusic website
Interview with Art Tatum
Frequently Asked Questions About Art Tatum
1. What are some of the most famous Art Tatum quotes?
Art Tatum was one of the most influential jazz pianists of all time. His unique approach to the piano and his sheer talent made him one of the most beloved musicians of the 20th century. Here are some of Art Tatum’s famous quotes that capture his unique perspective on music and life:
- “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.”
- “I try to make the music speak, to make it say something from my heart. I try to give something of myself.”
- “It’s all in the way you handle it. You can take a tune and make it your own, just by the way you phrase it. That’s the beauty of jazz.”
- “You can’t play what you don’t know, so you have to learn as much as you can.”
- “You have to learn to listen, to hear what’s not being played as well as what is.”
- “It’s not enough to know the notes, you have to feel the music.”
2. How did Art Tatum influence jazz music?
Art Tatum was one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. He had a unique style and approach to playing jazz that changed the genre forever. His influence can be seen in the music of many of today’s top jazz artists.
Tatum’s influence on jazz was wide-ranging. He was an innovator, incorporating classical elements into his playing and adopting a more improvisational style. He also had a huge influence on jazz piano playing, pioneering a more intricate, sophisticated approach.
- He was an innovator, incorporating classical elements into his playing and adopting a more improvisational style.
- He pioneered a more intricate, sophisticated approach to jazz piano playing.
- He was the first jazz musician to record solo piano albums.
- He was the first jazz musician to be recognized by the general public.
- He was a master of improvisation, and his dazzling technique and creative use of chords and runs set a standard for jazz musicians.
- He was an influence on many of the great jazz artists of the 20th century, including Earl Hines, Oscar Peterson, and Art Blakey.
Tatum’s influence on jazz is still felt today, and his music continues to be an inspiration to jazz musicians all over the world. He is remembered as a musical genius who revolutionized the way jazz is played and enjoyed.
3. What were Art Tatum’s musical influences?
Art Tatum was a master of the jazz piano and his influences and influences on his music are wide ranging. He was heavily influenced by the stride style of piano playing, which was popular in the 1920s and 30s. He also drew inspiration from the styles of Earl Hines, Willie “The Lion” Smith, and Fats Waller. Additionally, Tatum had a deep appreciation for European classical music and was known to cite a vast array of prominent composers, including Bach, Debussy, and Chopin, as influences.
- Stride Piano
- Earl Hines
- Willie “The Lion” Smith
- Fats Waller
- European Classical Music
- Bach
- Debussy
- Chopin
4. How did Art Tatum become one of the most influential jazz pianists?
Art Tatum was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 13, 1909. He began to teach himself music at an early age. He was a prodigy, able to play complex jazz pieces after only hearing them once. He was a master of improvisation, able to come up with creative and unique melodies on the fly.
Tatum was also known for his technique. His speed, agility, and wide range of notes often left his audience in awe. He could also play a piece in multiple keys and change the chords and harmony on the fly. His mastery of the instrument was unparalleled and has been emulated by countless pianists since.
Throughout his career, Tatum worked with many of the top jazz acts of his time. He toured with Earl Hines, Benny Carter, and Lionel Hampton. He also appeared on recordings with jazz icons such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Coleman Hawkins. His influence spread far beyond his home town of Toledo, and he was eventually inducted into the Down Beat magazine Hall of Fame.
Here are some of the reasons why Art Tatum became one of the most influential jazz pianists:
- Prodigy: Able to quickly learn and master complex jazz pieces after only hearing them once.
- Improvisation: Creative and unique melodies on the fly.
- Technique: Speed, agility, and wide range of notes.
- Worked with top jazz acts: Appeared on recordings and toured with some of the most iconic jazz musicians of all time.
- Inducted into the Down Beat magazine Hall of Fame: His influence reached far beyond his home town.
5. What are some of the most well-known Art Tatum recordings?
Art Tatum was a jazz pianist and composer known for his virtuosity and improvisational skills. He is considered one of the most influential pianists of all time and his recordings have become some of the most treasured in jazz. Here are some of the most popular Art Tatum recordings:
- Tea for Two
- Tiger Rag
- Honeysuckle Rose
- St. Louis Blues
- Body and Soul
- Begin the Beguine
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- On the Sunny Side of the Street
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that Art Tatum was an amazing artist and musician who inspired others with his unique style of playing the piano. His quotes, which spoke of his passion for music, his dedication to the art form, and his desire to bring joy to others through his music, continue to inspire and motivate people today. Art Tatum’s legacy is one that will live on for generations to come.
