Pianist Art Tatum “was the greatest soloist in jazz history, regardless of instrument,” jazz critic Leonard Feather wrote. Tatum passed away in 1956, so you may have missed the experience of sitting in the room and hearing him play in person. It’s now again possible, through the efforts of SIUE Alumni Hall-of-Fame honoree John Q. Walker. Dr. Walker founded Zenph Sound Innovations, which focuses on understanding – and precisely replicating – the nuances of musicianship. The New York Times described the company’s work as “a technological miracle” and named it one of the “Best Ideas of the Year.” Their new recordings of Art Tatum at L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium received multiple Grammy nominations. They brought Rachmaninoff back to Carnegie Hall last fall, in a concert that was crowned by the live performance of Ruth Slenczynska. Dr. Walker brings the requisite hardware and software to Abbott Auditorium, which includes a modern nine-foot concert grand piano full of fiber optics, solenoids and computers. Join us Sunday, October 10th, for this unique concert experience. Call 618-650-5774 to make reservations.
