Page "Art Tatum" Paragraph 1

Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time and he was a major influence on later generations of jazz pianists.

He was noted for the complexity and speed of his performances, which set a new standard for jazz piano virtuosity.

Critic Scott Yanow wrote, " Tatum's quick reflexes and boundless imagination kept his improvisations filled with fresh ( and sometimes futuristic ) ideas that put him way ahead of his contemporaries ... Art Tatum's recordings still have the ability to scare modern pianists.