Tommy Flanagan

Tommy Flanagan (1930-2001) was a post-bebop jazz pianist influenced by players like Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell and Hank Jones. Raised in Detroit, Flanagan came into high demand when he moved to New York in 1956. Jazz greats John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins both recorded with Flanagan for their landmark albums "Giant Steps" & "Today & Now" respectively. This confirmed Flanagan's reputation for playing with versatility, and with a sensitive approach for the standards and ballads. From the mid 1960s to the late 1970s Flanagan was Ella Fitzgerald's accompanist, before beginning a productive period in the 1980s and '90s where he led many trio and quartet projects.