Too Marvelous for Words - Art Tatum

On this date in 1909 Arthur Tatum Jr was born in Toledo, Ohio. Tatum is considered by many as the greatest jazz pianists of all time. It was often said was so good on the piano words were never necessary for his music. Art was born blind in one eye with only very limited vision in the other. He was a child prodigy who learned to play by ear in church. He developed a incredibly fast playing style, without losing accuracy which would go on to become his trademark. He would go on to set the bar for which all other jazz pianist would be measured.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Cs_zb4q14&hl=en&fs=1&]

Dizzy Gillespie - "First you speak of Art Tatum, then take a long deep breath, and you speak of the other pianists.