Search - Art Tatum :: Classic Early Solos (1934-1937)

Art Tatum was simply a marvel at the piano keyboard, a whirlwind of creative energy who could switch suddenly from a lilting swing to runs of such speed they might levitate the piano. This CD collects all his Decca recordings from the 1930s, 16 tracks from 1934, including alternate versions of three pieces, and four from 1937. Tatum was both synthesis and extension of the great pianists who had preceded him, including elements of stride that would suggest James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, and Duke Ellington, but his greatest influence was unquestionably Earl Hines. Hines's sheer command of rhythm and harmony permitted extraordinary creative freedom, and as Hines withdrew from solo piano recording in the '30s, Tatum emerged to build on his innovations. The two versions of "When a Woman Loves a Man," recorded a few weeks apart, demonstrate how differently Tatum could approach the same tune, but each piece here is a striking example of Tatum's inventiveness. He doesn't just transform a song's harmonies, he often transforms its mood; a ballad like "Ill Wind" moves from the pensive to the exuberant. While ecstatic virtuosity may be the dominant characteristic of Tatum's music, there's an increased depth on the tracks from 1937, which is particularly apparent on Fats Waller's "Stormy Weather," imbued here with a deep and languid blues feeling. --Stuart Broomer