Tommy Flanagan

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For other people named Thomas Flanagan, see Thomas Flanagan (disambiguation).
Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan.jpg
Jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan at the Village Jazz Lounge in Walt Disney World
Background information
Birth name Thomas Lee Flanagan
Born (1930-03-16)March 16, 1930
Origin Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died November 16, 2001(2001-11-16) (aged 71)
New York City, New York
Genres Bop
Hard bop
Mainstream jazz
Occupations Pianist
Instruments Piano
Associated acts Ella Fitzgerald
John Coltrane
Kenny Dorham Quartet

Thomas Lee Flanagan (March 16, 1930 – November 16, 2001, New York City) was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald.[1] Flanagan played on a number of critically acclaimed recordings, such as John Coltrane's Giant Steps, Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, and Art Pepper's Straight Life.[1]

Contents

Biography [edit]

As a small boy he received a clarinet as a gift for Christmas but could only think about one instrument, the piano. According to Flanagan "we always had a piano in our house" and he began playing it at the age of five.

The Tommy Flanagan Trio (with bassist Wilbur Little and drummer Elvin Jones) released their first album, Tommy Flanagan Trio Overseas, in 1957. As an accompanist, Flanagan worked with Ella Fitzgerald from 1963 to 1965 and 1968 to 1978. Beginning in 1975, Flanagan began once again to perform and record as a leader. He continued to work with other players, however, forming a trio with Tal Farlow and Red Mitchell, among other projects.

Flanagan's style was both modest and exceptionally musical. He embodied many of the most important qualities associated with jazz: swing, harmonic sophistication, melodic invention, bluesy feel and humour. Interestingly, he appeared on a number of highly innovative albums. (His controversial solo on the fast and harmonically complex title-track of Giant Steps is a rare [if famous] instance on record of the usually unflappable pianist being caught off-guard.)[2]

Tommy Flanagan is mentioned by Japanese Author Haruki Murakami in the short story, Chance Traveller, in which he describes his experiences at a Tommy Flanagan performance.

During his career, Flanagan was nominated for four Grammy Awards — two for Best Jazz Performance (Group) and two for Best Jazz Performance (Soloist).

He died on November 16, 2001, of an arterial aneurysm.[1]

Discography [edit]

As leader [edit]

  • 1957: Overseas (Prestige)
  • 1959: The Cats (New Jazz)
  • 1959: Lonely Town (released 2000, Blue Note) With Joe Benjamin and Elvin Jones
  • 1960: Moodsville 9 (Prestige)
  • 1975: The Tommy Flanagan Tokyo Recital (Pablo)
  • 1975: Trinity (Inner City)
  • 1977: Eclypso (Enja)
  • 1978: Plays the Music of Harold Arlen (Inner City)
  • 1978: Ballads and Blues (Enja)
  • 1978: Our Delights (Galaxy) Duo with Hank Jones
  • 1978: More Delights (Galaxy) Duo with Hank Jones
  • 1978: Something Borrowed, Something Blue (Galaxy)
  • 1980: Super Session (Enja)
  • 1981: The Magnificent (Progressive)
  • 1981: A Little Pleasure (Reservoir) With J.R. Monterose
  • 1982: Confirmation (Enja)
  • 1982: Giant Steps (Enja) Trio with George Mraz and Al Foster
  • 1982: Thelonica (Enja)
  • 1984: Alone too Long (Denon)
  • 1989: Jazz Poet (Timeless)
  • 1990: Beyond the Bluebird (Timeless)
  • 1993: Flanagan's Shenanigans (Storyville)
  • 1993: Let's (Enja)
  • 1993: Lady Be Good... for Ella (Groovin' High)
  • 1997: Sunset and the Mockingbird (Blue Note)
  • 1997: Sea Changes (Evidence)

As sideman [edit]

With Gene Ammons

With Kenny Burrell

With Gary Burton

With Donald Byrd

With Paul Chambers

With Arnett Cobb

With John Coltrane

With Sonny Criss

With Miles Davis

With Ted Dunbar

With Booker Ervin

With Tal Farlow

With Art Farmer

With Ella Fitzgerald

With Curtis Fuller

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Benny Golson

With Dexter Gordon

With Bennie Green

With Coleman Hawkins

With Jimmy Heath

With Milt Jackson

With Willis Jackson

With Illinois Jacquet

With Elvin Jones

With Philly Joe Jones

With Thad Jones

With Clifford Jordan

With Herbie Mann

With Blue Mitchell

With Wes Montgomery

With Gerry Mulligan

  • Jeru (Columbia, 1962)

With Art Pepper

With Julian Priester

With Waymon Reed

With Sonny Rollins

With Pee Wee Russell

With Louis Smith

With Stanley Turrentine

With Phil Woods

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c Tommy Flanagan, Elegant Jazz Pianist, Is Dead at 71. NYTimes.com, By Ben Ratliff
  2. ^ Conquering Giant Steps. GuitarPlayer.com, By Corey Christiansen

External links [edit]

Authority control
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