(Thanks, T. :)

Here's the reference cited by Wikipedia: "Doerschuk, Robert. 88 – The Giants of Jazz Piano. p. 58. "'by consensus, the greatest jazz pianist who ever lived.' When Leonard Feather was compiling his Encyclopedia of Jazz in the mid-1950s, he polled a number of musicians about the players they themselves most admired on their respective instruments. More than two-thirds of the pianists surveyed put Tatum at the top of the list. Gene Lees conducted a similar poll thirty years later, and again Tatum dominated the results."

Reade33r T. writes:

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Re: 1954 - ART TATUM, 'CHEROKEE'

"Tatum is widely acknowledged as the greatest jazz pianist of all time,[1] and was a major influence on later generations of jazz pianists".

ONLY if you don't know any better. While I love Art and have many of his recordings, his playing is predictable.

Hailed by Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock as the greatest jazz pianist of all time is none other than one Earl Randolph Powell. You might know him as Bud. It is the subject matter that sets him apart. I can give you around two dozen examples of pianists from the 50's that took one or two of his devices and made careers out of them.

As far as technique goes, Phineas Newborn Jr was not even human with his control and speed. I'll link a track and notice the octave unison playing. He could play anything his right hand could play with his left hand.

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd1cOBbNp7o

As for Bud, here is his best offering. Tea for Two, Hallucinations, and Parisian Thoroughfare are the best examples. If one listens to Hallucinations and thinks he is making errors, it is your ears not hearing and not his playing.

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yATDqcTPWI0&list=PLHCcCVjmq6AGB1NOJyvaSgQOi_7lqNA75&index=6&t=0s

As an aside, here is some Bill Evans with the best drummer Bill has ever heard (because he was the greatest of all time mostly)

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz-PjwJFe4A

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ta8S9OTmo

Not Philly on drums. This one is notable due to the 16 bar phrase on the first chorus. Don't try that at home folks!
Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmtj2InU4D4

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