Thomas "Fats" Waller (1904, 1943) was a pianist, organist, and composer whose infectious energy and technical brilliance made him one of the most influential figures in swing-era jazz. Though he excelled as a performer and bandleader, Waller's gift for composition gave American popular music some of its most enduring standards, including "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Black and Blue." His ability to blend sophisticated harmonies with unbridled joy defined an entire era of American music.
Waller's arrangement sensibilities shaped how these songs were understood and performed by generations of musicians. His conception of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" captures the wit and rhythmic vitality that made his interpretations legendary, offering pianists a window into how a master of swing thought about phrasing, comping, and making a standard their own.
