Performing are Ben Webster, Eddie Barefield, Buck Clayton, and Benny Morton.īut, Gleason wrote capsule reviews of two Tatum recordings, the first on Decca records:Īrt Tatum, the old blind pianist, is absolutely marvelous on “Body and Soul” which has “What Will I Tell My Heart” on the reverse side. On a visit to NYC during those years, he played at the Famous Door on 52 nd Street, which was part of Gleason’s beat though it’s unknown if Gleason ever saw Tatum perform. Throughout the 1930s, he made his home in Cleveland, Chicago, and California. Art TatumĪfter a 1932 Harlem cutting contest, Tatum emerged with the reputation of being one of America’s best jazz pianists. His career began in the late-1920s and his early admirers included Duke Ellington. The sight-impaired Tatum had perfect pitch and was influenced by church music and the stride piano style of “Fats” Waller. Tatum (1909-1956) was in his late 20s when he recorded these singles. “Stormy Weather” B/W “Gone with The Wind” (1938).“Body and Soul” B/W “What Will I Tell My Heart?” (1937).Gleason reviewed at least two records by Art Tatum in his Columbia Spectator column, “Off the Record”: When jazz writer Ted Gioia recently posted an extraordinary YouTube clip of pianist Art Tatum, a question came to mind, “Didn’t Ralph Gleason write about Tatum in his college newspaper?”
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