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Rating: 
Summary: The essential story of Art Tatum.
Review: (...) Reading "Too Marvelous For Words" is true to Tatum's life. Jim Lester, he a trombonist, presents an exhaustive survey of who the man was. I've read and re-read the book several times; getting more enjoyment each time. (...)
Rating:
Summary: The essential story of Art Tatum.
Review: (...) Reading "Too Marvelous For Words" is true to Tatum's life. Jim Lester, he a trombonist, presents an exhaustive survey of who the man was. I've read and re-read the book several times; getting more enjoyment each time. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading for All Art Tatum Fans
Review: I am ecstatic that this marvelous book has been written. I truly believed, until this book became known to me, that I would for all my life enjoy Art Tatum without ever knowing anything about him. To me, this is a first rate book that will stand the test of time and be cherished by future generations. The author is an accomplished pianist and he writes about Tatum in a way that I, as a pianist, can profoundly relate to. I suspect this will probably be the only book that will ever be written about Tatem, as he was born in 1909 and the people who knew him are dying off. For me, the journey to this book was to first read the wonderful biography of Bud Powell by Francis Paudras, then read the fascinating biography of Bill Evans by Peter Pettinger, and then read this incredible Tatum biography. Reading this book has inspired me to study, more deeply, Fats Waller. The era during which which Art Tatum, Fats Waller, J.P. Johnson, Willie the Lion, et al., were kings, is a fascinating, riveting period that deserves study by all who have a love of jazz piano.
Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading for All Art Tatum Fans
Review: I am ecstatic that this marvelous book has been written. I truly believed, until this book became known to me, that I would for all my life enjoy Art Tatum without ever knowing anything about him. To me, this is a first rate book that will stand the test of time and be cherished by future generations. The author is an accomplished pianist and he writes about Tatum in a way that I, as a pianist, can profoundly relate to. I suspect this will probably be the only book that will ever be written about Tatem, as he was born in 1909 and the people who knew him are dying off. For me, the journey to this book was to first read the wonderful biography of Bud Powell by Francis Paudras, then read the fascinating biography of Bill Evans by Peter Pettinger, and then read this incredible Tatum biography. Reading this book has inspired me to study, more deeply, Fats Waller. The era during which which Art Tatum, Fats Waller, J.P. Johnson, Willie the Lion, et al., were kings, is a fascinating, riveting period that deserves study by all who have a love of jazz piano.
Rating:
Summary: James Lester on Art Tatum
Review: It's been about 10 years since this book was published. I've read it over and over more than 10 times.Lester never made any bones about finding new material about Art. He always admitted that he was just putting pen to paper about Tatum using known history, just because nobody else had seen fit to do so--- yet.
Lester loved that man-- as did anybody who was lucky enough to know him. I was one of the lucky ones. The book is a gem; it manages to get to the very essence of Tatum, the man. We all know everything about Tatum the brilliant super-pianist. Now you have the chance to read about Tatum, the boy next door. ...
Rating:
Summary: James Lester on Art Tatum
Review: It's been about 10 years since this book was published. I've read it over and over more than 10 times.Lester never made any bones about finding new material about Art. He always admitted that he was just putting pen to paper about Tatum using known history, just because nobody else had seen fit to do so--- yet.
Lester loved that man-- as did anybody who was lucky enough to know him. I was one of the lucky ones. The book is a gem; it manages to get to the very essence of Tatum, the man. We all know everything about Tatum the brilliant super-pianist. Now you have the chance to read about Tatum, the boy next door. ...
Rating: 
Summary: A well written exploration of Art Tatum's genius
Review: This book does a wonderful job explaining Art Tatum's monumental talent and the almost mythic regard in which he was held by world class jazz and even classical musicians. Forty years after his death, Tatum is still seen as a towering and intimidating presence by pianists. The book relates, in great detail, one Tatum anecdote after another by jazz legends of Tatum's startling talent. Where the book falls down though, is trying to explain Tatum, the man. I learned very little about Tatum other than his gift for music and love of playing and drinking. Overall though, an interesting read about a little known genius.
Rating:
Summary: A truly delightful portrait of a staggering genius
Review: This is not an ordinary biography of an extraordinary musian: it is an excellent biography. It's the best jazz bio I have read, in fact. Concise, compelling, carefully crafted into a meaningful story about the greatest jazz pianist ever. The book is built on dozens of interviews with people who had entered or witnessed moments of Tatum's life. Lester quotes generously, nimbly weaving the material together to form a rich picture of an often elusive character. Tatum emerges as an absorbing, riveting figure. This is a must for all those fascinated with the origins and development of genius: innate or acquired? And for those fascinated with Tatum: unique phenomenon or "mere" virtuoso? There is much food for thought here.
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