Many jazz pianists consider Art Tatum (1910-1956) as their unsurpassed
master.  I have a shellac record featuring Art Tatum (CBS Mono 62615),
and I think these two extracts from the record's sleeve might interest
you:

1) By another famous jazz pianist, Bill Evans:

 "An old friend of Tatum once told me that the reason why Tatum had
  developed his amazing technique and his bedrock left-hand foundation
  is that he had shaped his style after a player-piano ! He just hadn't
  realized that some of the perforated rolls actually featured two
  pianists, one of them playing the left-hand part !

 "This man swears the story is true, and I believe it.  I can't think
  of anybody else taking up such a challenge.  Tatum was fantastic".

2) Tatum certainly learned how to play.  Here are the words of the
famous French violin player Stephane Grapelli (who was also a very good
pianist):

 "In the early thirties, I was working at Le Touquet (N.B.: a very
  fashionable beach on the Channel, facing England) with Gregor's
  band, and it was the fist time you could hear recorded music in
  the open air.

 "One day, I thought I was hearing two pianists playing "Tiger Rag".
  I rushed into the booth to find out who was playing.  The man in
  charge looked at the label on the record and said : "You are right,
  there are two pianists: Art and Tintin!"

(N.B.: Tintin is the world-famous hero of a cartoon series by the
Belgian writer Herge', but that was well after the 1930's !).

 "Back in Paris, I went to a record shop and found out that "Tiger Rag"
  had been recorded by a single pianist.  His name was Art Tatum".

Now please, listen carefully to Art Tatum's playing !

(Hey, Robbie, you *can* do that too!  When I was at your home listening
from another room to your playing, I would have sworn that you had a
twin brother.)  Just imagine two Robbie Rhodes playing together.
Waoooh !  Not enough keys on the keyboard.

 [ Not enough hands, either!  -- Robbie

Best regards,

Philippe Rouille  (Paris, France)
rouille@cnam.fr
http://www.cnam.fr/museum/musica_mecanica/