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Thomas Lee Flanagan (March 16, 1930 – November 16, 2001) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He grew up in Detroit, initially influenced by pianists Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, and Nat King Cole, and then by the newer bebop musicians. Within months of moving to New York in 1956, he had recorded with Miles Davis and on Sonny Rollins' landmark ''Saxophone Colossus''. Recordings under various leaders, including the historically important ''Giant Steps'' of John Coltrane, and ''The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery'', continued well into 1962, when he became vocalist Ella Fitzgerald's full-time accompanist. He stayed for three years, then returned to be her pianist and musical director in 1968, and stayed for a decade. After leaving Fitzgerald again, Flanagan attracted praise for the elegance of his playing, which was principally in trio settings when under his own leadership. In his 45-year recording career, he recorded more than three dozen albums under his own name and more than 200 as a sideman. By the time of his death he was one of the most widely admired of jazz pianists and had influenced both his contemporaries and later generations of players. ==Early life== Flanagan was born in Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, on March 16, 1930.〔〔 He was the youngest of six children – five boys and a girl.〔 His parents were both originally from Georgia. His father, Johnson Sr,〔Cohassey, John (1996) "Tommy Flanagan". In ''Contemporary Musicians''. Volume 16. pp. 106–109. Reproduced at (encyclopedia.com. ) Retrieved August 20, 2013.〕 was a postman, and his mother, Ida Mae, worked in the garment industry.〔Fordham, John (November 20, 2001) ("Tommy Flanagan" ). ''The Guardian''.〕 At the age of six, his parents gave him a clarinet for Christmas.〔 He learned to read music from playing that instrument, but within a few years he preferred the piano.〔 The family had a piano in the house, and Flanagan received lessons from one of his brothers, Johnson,〔WKCR broadcast (November 20, 1994) Transcribed at Panken, Ted (March 16, 2013) ("For Tommy Flanagan's 83rd Birthday Anniversary, a 1994 Interview on WKCR" ). Transcript of WKCR radio interview. Retrieved August 6, 2013.〕 and Gladys Wade Dillard, who also taught Kirk Lightsey and Barry Harris.〔〔Feather, Leonard and Gitler, Ira (1999) (''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz''. ) Oxford University Press. Retrieved August 6, 2013.〕 Flanagan graduated from Northern High School, which he attended with other future musicians, including Sonny Red.〔Berger, Edward; Martin, Henry; Morgenstern, Dan (eds.) (2007) (''Annual Review of Jazz Studies'' ). Volume 13. pp. 62–63. Scarecrow Press.〕 Flanagan's early influences included Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson, both of whom he heard on radio and playing in the Detroit area, as well as Nat King Cole and local pianists Earl Van Riper and Willie Anderson.〔 These, however, played in an earlier style, and the young Flanagan and his friends were more interested in the newer bebop, including that played by pianist Bud Powell, who had a strong effect on Flanagan's musical thinking and improvising.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tommy Flanagan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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