Born in Detroit, Tommy started playing professionally at 15 with other Motor City teenage stars-to-be such as Milt Jackson, Elvin Jones, Thad Jones and Kenny Burrell. By the mid-50's he was considered one of the leading bebop pianists, a position he enjoyed for the rest of his life. In the late 50's, he played on 2 of the most influential and popular jazz albums of all time: Sonny Rollins's "Saxophone Colossus" and John Coltrane's "Giant Steps."  Tommy was Ella Fitzgerald's accompanist and music director for many years, but spent the 80's and 90's as a headliner with his own trio (often with some combination of George Mraz or Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash or Kenny Washington on drums).  His melodically sophisticated, swinging style and impeccable touch are well-represented on his 1997 album "Sea Changes."  He wasn't not the flashiest player, nor did he spark or lead any great revolutions or transformations in the music...but Tommy Flanagan, along with Kenny Barron, is one of my two favorite jazz pianists of all time.