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. Read
more
Tonight, God Is
In the House
A short story on the "PhilosophersNotes" site. Read
the story
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.