My first exposure to Art Tatum’s recordings was similar to calculus, i.e. “I recognize a few digits – but what’s all the other stuff?” Few people can listen fast enough and attentively enough, with any consistency, to take in the ‘full measure’ of what is happening as Art plays.  His improvisations extend the possibilities for tunes beyond what even the original composers might have envisioned.  So far beyond, that many people, even experienced pianists, and others with musical background, often describe their initial listening experience as ‘demanding’ - a word not usually associated with musical entertainment! (A precocious, pre-teen Oscar Peterson reportedly didn't touch a piano for several weeks after his father played him a Tatum recording of 'Tiger Rag')

Stick with it! Learn to be amazed, over and over again, by this singularly-talented man’s virtuoso playing and effortless improvisations as he interprets ‘popular music’ of the day.

Most critics maintain that, while Tatum was a capable and gracious collaborator when playing alongside and accompanying others, the finest examples of his talent were exposed as a soloist – playing for small groups - musician friends and others he was most comfortable with. The two volumes below are from these types of sessions – made at opposite ends of Tatum’s too-short career. It is interesting to compare the tunes that appear on both recordings.  The liner notes are definitely a useful adjunct to both volumes.