Art Tatum is not only jazz's greatest piano player, but he inspired many of the greats who came after him.  His brilliant improvisation and his facility and speed on the piano has intimidated generations of pianists.  He was mostly blind and studied music at the school for the blind as a child.  His ideas were so ahead of his time that his music still surprises you today.  Hear the monstrous talent of Art Tatum tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.  Art Tatum was born into a musical family.  His father was a guitarist and his mother a pianist.