Art Tatum: Over the Rainbow (1939, 1948, 1953, 1956) 

Love that he's never played any song the same way twice.

So much for the nature versus nurture argument. This man was born for this.

A genius is talking to us. A revolution in harmonics, voicing and rhythm.

ART TATUM HAS TOTALLY STRETCHED MY EXPERIENCED WITH HARMONIC VARIETY BEYONE ANYTHING I COULD HAVE IMAGENED. YES, A GENIUS.

You have the dark and the light, the big and the small, the ugly and the handsome, but beauty is...... in the ears of the beholder

The Great Wizard of Jazz

A phenomenal pianist whose virtuosity is unmatched.

I don’t play piano, just brass instruments. But Art Tatum is so good that after listening to him play, I am left exhausted and out of breath!

My dad - a jazzman - taught me to "know" Art Tatum, when I was 4. I could, actually, distinguish between a number of jazz-pianists at that age - and my mother taught me about the classical piano-music. She was good at Schubert herself.😍

His genius and improvisation with phrasing will never be matched again in the history of American Jazz. The greatest of the greats with fingers of magic.

Grande conoscenza della Musica, non solo grande conoscenza e sapienza pianistica. Siamo oltre le umane possibilità!

That's a good idea putting together those versions in chronological order! I couldn't choose the best.

Filed under: "Four things worth doing on that 92 key Bösendorfer in your playroom."

Im jealous admire this miracle

The absolute best I’ve ever heard!❤️🔥🔥🔥

Grandissimo!!!!

If you actually play the pianoforte you appreciate that both Vladimir Horowitz and Art Tatum reign supreme in terms of extraordinary technical ability but also inventiveness and the latter is probably something you cannot learn in essence. I played at four years, mostly by ear. Later on hearing the likes of Messrs Horowitz and Tatum, knocked the stuffing out of me because one simply knew that such ability was beyond reach.

Reading the form diagram along with the 1939 version made it very entertaining to hear what he was doing.

The amount of energy in the 1956 version doesn't sound like it's from a person who will pass in the same year.

I wish I could play as much as Tatum's pinky!

On this one, I stopped at the end of the first performance. A break is vital. I must first prepare myself psychologically for what comes next, "over this talent rainbow".

Art Tatum ❤️

Thanks very much Rufus for posting this. I love this song and it's ineresting to see how Art improvises the song over the recordings you've shared

It doesn’t take much listening to Art Tatum to realize he is the GOAT. Oscar Peterson said to Andre Previn in an interview: “I still listen to Art Tatum, religiously.” There really is no better way to look at it than that as a Jazz Pianist. Art had talent that the world may never experience the likes of again. His sounds inspire me to practice every day.

1953 is my favorite 🙌🏿

The best of all, the one and only Art Tatum. All the rest are too small compared to him. Undoubtedly he is the God of piano.

A giant among musicians! Vastly underrated!

Thank you, Chris. Amazing. Hi Mike Rosenberg! :)

The GOAT

Someone once said," i could of sworn that was two people playing".😊

Tatum was a one off. But there are a lot of one offs going about, you just have to find them, before they find you...

Vladimir Horovitz once said that if Art Tatum had started playing classical piano music he would have quitted piano :)

I hear Peterson in his playing. I always wondered where OP got some of his ideas from! Both are the absolute best !

What a PIANIST!!!!!!!

One of my favorite recordings is the 1953. After listening to the four, I still feel that one is the best, but that could just be my bias after listening to it first. Also, the recording quality seems noticeably better.

Geez! Yes, the others are small compared to Tatum.

None other…ever!

I like the 1948 version the best

🐐

I think 1939 is my favorite rendition

What a joyous morning. Bless you, Art. Actually, God did that.

The Happiest Pianist from GOD ❤

крутяк, ништяк!

Weil *Restaurationen immer besser* wurden, sollte auch *ihre Wiedergabe* weiter 'gepflegt' werden: die Kette ist "so stark wie ihr schwächstes Glied!" Meine *EMPFEHLUNG* der EQUALIZER *- Anpassung* *'Caruso'* Einstellung (classical modified) -11,2 dB (60Hz) -13,0 dB (230Hz) -14,8 dB (910Hz) -15,0 dB (4kHz) +15,0 dB (14kHz) Der Eintrag wurde ergänzt, weil es sehr unterschiedliche EQ gibt. Profis wissen das. Er bezieht sich hier allgemein auf eine *'Bass Booster App'* 🎧 - ohne das Zuschalten des BASS BOOST. Die meisten gehen wohl heute mit Bluetooth in ihrem Endgerät/Handy richtig um ('Advanced settings' überprüfen, den BBoost selbst vorsichtig verwenden, falls man ihn nutzt). 'Compatibility Mode' der App und 'Sound Field *FLAT'* Ihrer Anlage. Beeindruckende Brillanz!

Ed Algra! Of course I’m not “the only one”! And I’m glad there was / is a Tatum, an Oscar Peterson, an Erroll Garner and so on. But I like Fatsy Watsy.Waller most and think he’s the Best. Sorry, But you cannot discuss taste.

As Fats Waller once said: “That Tatum, he`s just too good !!” I really like Art, But I prefer Fats. Technically Fats only reaches Art`s anchels. But the rhythm, the drive, the swing: Waller, Waller, Waller !! So What is Best ?? Deside for your self. Well: “It don`t mean a thing if you don`t have that Swing !!”

All that followed by a few pathetic claps at the end

great talent limited scope the song structivre couldn''t read. should studied classical short life I heard he was an alcolholic.died at 46 too bad the most talented amateur there ever was pianowiser