Art Tatum: The Musician's Musician
More that fifty years ago, the jazz musician Art Tatum died. He's been called one
of the piano geniuses of all time, in any genre. Yet his legacy is often overlooked.
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Time-tested Tatum
Toledo jazz pianist was the best there ever was. Read more
Piano Starts Here – The Young Art Tatum
by Robert Andrew Parker
Children’s illustrator and author Robert Andrew Parker
(age 80) is a long-time fan of
Art Tatum and his music, and was fortunate enough to see him
perform live on 52nd Street
in 1946. Parker actually did the cover artwork for Columbia's
original LP of Tatum “Piano Starts Here.”
Now, decades later, Parker’s “
Piano Starts Here
art has morphed into an
educational and literary tribute to Tatum.
The book is a beautifully-crafted children’s
book published by Random House. illustrating
Tatum’s world and Tatum’s insight. In the world of
Art Tatum, dark and light didn’t matter–
what did matter were the smells, like corn bread baking in
the over and the sounds, like
the tinkle of piano keys. Parker’s book adds a unique visual
into Tatum’s life; librarians
and grade school teachers nationwide are recommending the book
highly.