Tommy Flanagan

Thomas Lee Flanagan, commonly known as Tommy Flanagan, was an American jazz pianist and composer, born on March 16, 1930. Admired worldwide, his career was defined by a 45-year recording biography that includes more than three dozen albums under his own name and over 200 as a sideman. First establishing his reputation in New York in 1956, Flanagan garnered recognition for his work with giants like Miles Davis and on Sonny Rollins' album Saxophone Colossus. His collaboration with Ella Fitzgerald for fourteen years significantly defined his career, first beginning in 1962, then continued in 1968 as she welcomed him again as her pianist and musical director.

A native to Detroit, Flanagan illustrated a proclivity for jazz from an early age. Initially influenced by pianists Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, and Nat King Cole, his style would later evolve under the tutelage of the bebop movement. His widespread influence and musicianship left a substantial legacy, earning him praise from critics and contemporaries alike. Notably, his trio settings presented an unparalleled elegance that attracted widespread acclaim. His work ethic and love for jazz allowed him to remain active until the end of his life in 2001.