Tommy Flanagan

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For other persons named Thomas Flanagan, see Thomas Flanagan (disambiguation).

Thomas Lee Flanagan (b. March 16, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan - d. November 16, 2001 in New York City) was an American jazz pianist, 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.

[edit] 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]