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Tommy Flanagan

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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. He 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.

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As a leader

As a sideman

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. ,

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Last updated on Monday March 10, 2008 at 15:57:58 PDT (GMT -0700)
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