# Can you top this for a piano solo? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954 "2012-02-25T14:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/1 "2012-02-25T14:28:16Z")
[Elegy - Art Tatum](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNAJlqn0nO4) > [@](#): > > The Greatest Piano Solo of all time ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/2 "2012-02-25T14:33:51Z")
I used to think my granddad’s pianola sounded too complex - like a human couldn’t play those tunes. I have just revised my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/3 "2012-02-25T17:22:21Z")
I can’t figure out how to listen to it on this device, but I’m sure it’s the _Eruption_ of jazz piano. Tatum was a freak; the Paganini of the Piano. I love his stuff, but ultimately bend more towards players like Bill Evans and Monk more - I prefer the space and use of harmonies each used. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/4 "2012-02-25T17:37:57Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I can’t figure out how to listen to it on this device, but I’m sure it’s the _Eruption_ of jazz piano. Tatum was a freak; the Paganini of the Piano. > > I love his stuff, but ultimately bend more towards players like Bill Evans and Monk more - I prefer the space and use of harmonies each used. I especially agree with the preference for Evans. The technical wizardry of Tatum is impressive, as is that of Oscar Peterson, but I like the more laid back stylings of Ahmad Jamal, George Shearing and Keith Jarrett, along with others in that vein. Nevertheless, there’s some fun trivia and more bio information on Tatum at [Art Tatum - The Art Of Jazz Piano](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUOp1W2aqiw&feature=fvsr) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/5 "2012-02-25T20:33:42Z")
Big deal - I can play “Heart And Soul” using only one finger. Now, if you want to be a show off and use all fingers on both hands, well - yeah, he does do an exceptionally fine performance that probably would rank high on all-time great solos. And I am sure if he were a contestant on America’s Got Talent, Piers Morgan would complain that he missed a note on the fifth stanza, third chord. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/6 "2012-02-25T21:26:28Z")
Can you top this for a piano solo? (Elegy - Art Tatum) Not my favorite cut by Tatum, but in terms of a) astonishing musical ideas, and b) the even more incredible ability to execute them, nobody before or since can top Art Tatum. And of course, if you want to add yet another layer of wonder, remember that he was blind (effectively, if not literally). . ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/7 "2012-02-25T21:37:56Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > And of course, if you want to add yet another layer of wonder, remember that he was blind (effectively, if not literally). …and, typically, effectively bombed while he played; he was known for having a never-empty beer by his keyboard… ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/8 "2012-02-25T21:54:25Z")
You swine, you might have told me it was jazz. Like barbed wire in my ears it was! Not my thing at all. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/9 "2012-02-25T22:32:05Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > You swine, you might have told me it was jazz. Like barbed wire in my ears it was! > Not my thing at all. More like a jazz interpretation of a classical piece - infused with classical harmonies and structure, but with a stride left hand. You don’t have to like it to respect the hell out of what he can do. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/10 "2012-02-25T22:42:23Z")
[Ray Charles and Clint Eastwood discuss Tatum and Oscar Peterson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=AGs7k_N-ZSs)- with long clips of each playing. You get to see Tatum’s unsurpassed techinque, but damn if I don’t prefer it when Peterson’s combo kicks in and they start to play fun, swinging jazz. I just prefer the groove of a combo over the filagree of the solo work… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/11 "2012-02-25T22:44:11Z")
If you like that sort of pyrotechnic fused with classical sort of stuff, are you familiar with Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s work by any chance. [See here, for instance.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9npt-CkaeI4) I would put him in the same league as Tatum and Peterson. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/12 "2012-02-25T23:58:27Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > More like a jazz interpretation of a classical piece - infused with classical harmonies and structure, but with a stride left hand. You don’t have to like it to respect the hell out of what he can do. I respect the physical dexterity but I’m afraid music like that repels me, almost a physical repulsion. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/13 "2012-02-26T18:55:45Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I respect the physical dexterity but I’m afraid music like that repels me, almost a physical repulsion. Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/14 "2012-02-26T19:55:00Z")
> [@](#): > > One ofternoon Pop walked in, called me as he wound up his pramophone and said, “Tell me what you think of this piano player.” I later found out it was Art Tatum playing the _Tiger Rag_. My first reaction was to laugh, because here was my Dad trying to fool me with a recording of two piano players. He asked me what I was laughing at and I replied that I was on to his joke and that I knew it was two pianists. He seemed to take a lot of pleasure informing me that this was one man - and blind at that! A total sense of frustration came over me. First, it was unbelievable to me that this man could play that way. Second, it was obvious that, though blind, he had accomplished pianistically worlds more than I had been able to do with my sight. From ‘ **A Jazz Odyssey** ’, by Oscar Peterson. Hearing Art Tatum that first time made Oscar stay away from the piano for a month. Fortunately for all of us, he got over it and back into playing. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/15 "2012-02-27T00:27:58Z")
Art Tatum wins for the most notes in the shortest time, but that isn’t music. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/16 "2012-02-27T01:59:17Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Art Tatum wins for the most notes in the shortest time, but that isn’t music. I would tend to agree with this. He’s not so much jazzing out than he is just randomly playing notes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/17 "2012-02-27T02:32:50Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Art Tatum wins for the most notes in the shortest time, but that isn’t music. I would disagree. I find his phrasings quite musical. I generally don’t like pyrotechnic piano, but of all the folks who do it, Tatum is among the most convincing and soulful. At least to me. I would never characterize what he is doing as not music. His music doesn’t sound that much different than some of the technical dexterity you would hear at the peak of the Romantics–folks like Rachmaninoff, say, or even Liszt. And Tatum makes it sound effortless, light, nuanced, and musical. He’s not just hamfistedly hammering on the keys. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/18 "2012-02-27T10:28:58Z")
Maybe this piece is technically astounding but to my mundane ears it’s just not very appealing. He sounds like he can’t figure out where he wants to be on the keyboard and it comes out sounding like a piano jumble. ---
**Author:** ![Whyzen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/0ea827/32.png) [@Whyzen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whyzen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/19 "2012-02-27T17:22:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If you like that sort of pyrotechnic fused with classical sort of stuff, are you familiar with Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s work by any chance. Pyrotechnic? Classical? How about [Yuja Wang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alxBofd_eQ) playing Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Flight of the Bumblebee_. Also, for some more pyrotechnics, you can look up Georges Cziffra or Cyprien Katsaris. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954/20 "2012-02-27T17:31:56Z")
> [@Whyzen](#): > > Pyrotechnic? Classical? > How about [Yuja Wang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alxBofd_eQ) playing Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Flight of the Bumblebee_. > Also, for some more pyrotechnics, you can look up Georges Cziffra or Cyprien Katsaris. See, that to me sounds a bit cold and mechanical. Compare to Vladimir Horowitz’s version, for instance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-top-this-for-a-piano-solo/613954.md?page=2)