Art Tatum

Innovative and trailblazing, Art Tatum's piano playing has inspired a new generation of jazz musicians, most of whom struggle to get anywhere near his brilliance. His father was a guitarist and his mother a pianist and Tatum (who was nearly blind) was a child prodigy, playing at his father's church before going on to study music at Columbus School for the Blind - though his love of jazz was initially discouraged. He got a spot on a Toledo radio station, but his reputation was made accompanying the singer Jon Hendricks at various clubs, leading to guest appearances with the likes of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Joe Turner when they appeared in Toledo. He exemplified the "stride" piano style associated with ragtime, writing famous arrangements of Tea For Two and Tiger Rag, and made his first recordings for the Brunswick label after moving to New York in the early 1930s. In 1941 he made some memorable recordings with Joe Turner, formed his own trio and broadened his style to encompass classical style and swing, and his many recordings are justly revered by jazz lovers.