Art Tatums's jazz piano techniques explained by Dick Hyman

  Dick Hyman is a fine piano player.  He turns 80 years old today - and it's amazing to consider his   heavy performing schedule.

I've long treasured my copy of his recording at the Maybeck Recital Hall of the Music of 1937.

Although I listen to Art Tatum rarely now, he was once my favourite jazz pianist.  One of the features of Tatum's playing was his huge technique and ability to play rapidly and clearly.  He had the ability to give voice to many then-original harmonic ideas.  It's often been said that people hearing his recordings for the first time often thought there were two piants playing.

Now I've found on YouTube that Dick Hyman has given lessons explaining and demonstrating Tatum's techniques and musical ideas.  I wish I'd found that 20 years ago.

Here's a link on YouTube for Hyman's introduction to his Tatum lesson series.  Other lessons are found beyond that link.

And here's where you can buy the CD-ROM of Hyman's Tatum Lessons.

My other favourite jazz pianists?  In no particular order:

- Teddy Wilson

- Oscar Peterson

- Erroll Garner

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[Dick Hyman]

Dick Hyman's instructional videos are now a part of his boxed set,Dick Hyman's Century of Jazz Piano, released by Arbors Records.