Fats Waller

Thomas “Fats” Waller was born in Harlem in 1904. As a child he learned to play the piano from James P. Johnson as well as Juilliard. Waller was a true personification of what jazz had evolved to in the 1920’s. Not only was he a supremely gifted musician, he was also a stage presence. His performances were as well known for their comedic qualities as the actual music he played. Waller was able find commercial success in Europe as well. This carries with it a particular significance as at the time he was one of the first African American jazz musicians to do so. Like all great New York pianists of the time, Waller was not a stranger to rent parties and cutting contests. Having been mentored by Harlem Stride legend James P. Johnson, Waller was a master Stride pianist himself and his fun loving personality made improvisation seem natural. Waller embodies the evolution of jazz and the piano that took place in the 1920’s from a standardized rich man’s music to a free flowing, creative art that could be enjoyed at Carnegie Hall as well as a back room party.