Tiny’s Exercise (with variations)

New York City, December, 1943

The tune is “Tiny愀 Exercise” written by Tiny Grimes, the guitarist of the group.

Don’t you wish more film makers had hit the clubs with their cameras during this incredibly rich – and sadly under documented – period?

The union musician’s strike against recording companies which lasted from 1942 to 1944 made studio recordings impossible so a lot of the early roots of bebop were not documented.

The “Art Tatum Trio” perform in a rare footage filmed in New York at the Three Duces night club on December 5, 1943.

Personnel: 

Art Tatum, piano
Tiny Grimes, guitar
Slam Stewart, bass