VARIATIONS ON A THEME
The eighth wonder of the world, as Count Basie called Art Tatum Jr., was born on 13 October, 1909 in Toledo, Ohio. Being blessed with an incredible sense of hearing, at the age of three Tatum could already play, by ear, the piano roll recordings from his mother’s collection. His perfect pitch probably compensated for the fact that he was virtually blind. Turning six years old he developed such an incredible speed and accuracy that he played compositions originally meant as duets.
His great inspiration was famous stride pianist Fats Waller. When Tatum joined a
