Art Tatum
1909 - 1956
5
Quotes
Biography
Art Tatum was an American jazz pianist widely considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Born in 1909 in Toledo, Ohio, Tatum overcame blindness at an early age to become a virtuosic and innovative musician. His astonishing speed, improvisational skills, and harmonic complexity set him apart from his contemporaries. Tatum's recordings and live performances continue to influence generations of musicians long after his untimely death in 1956.
Famous Quotes (5)
1
Any musician that says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced is a plain, straight liar. When I get too much to drink, I can't even finger well, let alone play decent ideas. If I am high on reefer, I can't even finger, period.
2
The way I look at a solo, it's like I'm walking through Harlem with no clothes on. I say to myself, 'Oh I see. So that's the way I look? You get hip to yourself.'
3
There is no such thing as a wrong note.
4
Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motivation would write it, my most gratified feeling is that I can so write it as to be unintelligible to all men.
5
Musically, it's true more anyway than it is abominable. But it is true. Happiness is based on being thrilled about the contribution.