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Art Tatum | Essential albums and listening guide
Explore Art Tatum through Piano Starts Here. Discover what to listen for and follow related styles to your next record.
Art Tatum
Meet the artist
A pianist known for extraordinary technique and harmonic imagination, expanding the sound of solo piano from a foundation in stride tradition. Independent hand movements combine melody, bass and harmony in one continuous flow.
Familiar tunes keep their outline while inner harmonies and embellishments change rapidly, creating extraordinary density from one piano. Surprising chord arrivals and relaxed pauses matter alongside speed. Older rhythmic traditions meet forward-looking harmony. The attraction is not merely virtuosity, but the transformation of a known melody by an abundant imagination.
Where to start listening
Rather than trying to follow every fast note, use the returning melody as a guide. Enjoy the changing harmonies and decorations around it.
1949Piano Starts Here
Art Tatum
A solo piano collection that includes the first recorded performance in 1933 and a concert recording in 1949. It showcases the virtuosic skills of the pianist from his youth until his mature period.
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1953The Genius of Art Tatum, No. 1
Art Tatum
The first installment of a solo piano series produced by Norman Granz. Its virtuosity and rich harmonic language expanded the possibilities of jazz piano.
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Years follow the Atlas catalogue. Recording dates, original release dates and digital reissue dates may differ.