Tommy Flanagan

Tommy Flanagan
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Lee Flanagan
Born	16 March, 1930
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died	16 November, 2001
Genre(s)	Bop Hard bop Mainstream jazz
Occupation(s)	Pianist
Instrument(s)	Piano
Associated acts	Ella Fitzgerald John Coltrane Kenny Dorham Quartet

Thomas Lee Flanagan 16 March, 1930–16 November, 2001) was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered as an accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald. He played on a number of critically acclaimed recordings, such as John Coltrane's Giant Steps, Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.

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 1963–65 and 1968–78. But 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. Although he would not be considered an innovator, such as Bill Evans or McCoy Tyner, Flanagan 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 awkward solo on the extremely 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.)

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.

Select Discography

As a leader

• Overseas (1957; Prestige Records)
• The Tokyo Recital (1975; Pablo Records)
• Trinity (1975; Inner City Records)
• Eclypso (1977; Enja Records)
• Plays the Music of Harold Arlen (1978; Inner City Records)
• Ballads and Blues (1978; Enja Records)
• Super Session (1980; Enja Records)
• The Magnificent (1981; Progressive Records)
• Thelonica (1982; Enja Records)
• Jazz Poet (1989; Timeless Records)
• Beyond the Bluebird (1990; Timeless Records)
• Flanagan's Shenanigans (1993; Storyville Records)
• Let's (1993; Enja Records)
• Lady Be Good for Ella (1993; Groovin' High Records)
• Sunset and the Mockingbird (1997; Blue Note Records)

As a sideman

• Detroit-New York Junction by Thad Jones (1956; Blue Note Records)
• Introducing Kenny Burrell by Kenny Burrell (1956; Blue Note Records)
• Collector's Items by Miles Davis (1956; Prestige Records)
• The Magnificent Thad Jones by Thad Jones (1956; Blue Note Records)
• Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins (1956; Prestige Records)
• Motor City Scene by Thad Jones (1959; United Artists Records)
• The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery by Wes Montgomery (1960; Riverside Records)
• Swingin' With Pee Wee by Pee Wee Russell (1960; Prestige Records)
• Giant Steps by John Coltrane (1960; Atlantic Records)
• Night Hawk by Coleman Hawkins (1960; Prestige Records)
• Opening Remarks by Ted Dunbar (1978; Xanadu Records)
• Chromatic Palette by Tal Farlow (1981; Concord Records)

Trivia

Eric Jackson, host of WGBH-Boston's nightly jazz program Jazz with Eric in the Evening uses "Peace", a cut from Flanagan's "Something Borrowed, Something Blue," as the introduction to his show every night. In the current schedule, it plays from approximately 8:00 to 8:07 p.m. [1], [2]

External links

• Tommy Flanagan biography on the All Music Guide
• Tommy Flanagan biography at BH Hopper Management
• Tommy Flanagan entry at the Jazz Discography Project

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