|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
72.0.180.228
From the people who brought you 50 greatest jazz albums posted below,
here's a list of their 36 greatest jazz pianists.
Comments: No Nat Cole? No Paul Smith (most people have never heard of
him, but those who have heard him know how good he was)? No Dick Hyman?
No Mary Lou Williams? Monk at # 2? - that indicates a complete lack of
perspective. Earl Hines at # 14? - Hines and Tatum should share first
place. Hank Jones at # 30 and Tommy Flanagan at #18? These two are
top 10. No Dave McKenna? Herbie Hancock rated ahead of Oscar Peterson? -
that's laughable, as is having Hancock in the top 10.
The 10 best jazz pianists with whom I am familiar are, in no particular
order except as indicated: Tatum and Hines share # 1; the other 8 being
Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Paul Smith, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell (when
he was lucid), John Lewis, Wynton Kelly, and Bill Evans.
Two personal favorites who would easily make my top 50 are Gene Harris
and Dave McKenna, both of whom recorded extensively for Concord in the
80s and 90s and produced some killer recordings.
Follow Ups:
Also known as Dollar Brand. I prefer him in a trio setting, not 'comping.
Check out any of the selections in the album, Capetown Flowers.
Another of my favorites is Cyrus Chestnut. His solo performances are .unique experiences. Like Oscar Peterson, he is just an awesome player
DaveT
I thought about Chestnut as well as Eric Reed...Eric is a beautiful player.
BUT - no Horace Silver?? Dick Wellstood?? Art Hodes?
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
nt
-
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
And where's Dave McKenna?
good question
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
I've read the whole thread and I don't recall seeing Horace mentioned. I'm too lazy to reread it all to double check. A mystery for the ages ;-)
dh
Dave Frishberg.
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
I concur- such lists are impossible to cover everyone.
which is why I never start any
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
Some that I like in no particular order:
Horace Tapscott
Herbie Hancock
Kenny Kirkland
Elmo Hope
Phineas Newborn Jr.
Rodney Kendrick
Amina Figorova
Taylor Eigsti
Sonny Clark
Bill Evans
Hampton Hawes
Kenny Barron
Jason Moran
Kris Davis
Gerald Clayton
Danny Grissett
Hank Jones
Marcus Roberts
Jessica Williams
Mulgrew Miller
McCoy Tyner
Aaron Goldberg
Geoff Keezer
Luis Perdomo
Robert Glasper
Frank Kimbrough
I would add Pearson, Weston, Waldron, Nichols if he wasn't mentioned, and... Junior Mance, great blues pianist.
How could I forget Herbie Nichols! I also forgot, Stanley Cowell, Tommy Flanagan and Mal Waldron.
how many others come to mind as we think about it.
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
Chick Corea
Keith Jarrett
Ahmad Jamal
Red Garland
George Cables
Eddie Palmieri
Barry Harris
Joe Zawinul
Danilo Perez
Kenny Drew Jr.
Plenty more, needless to say. Btw - heard what I've linked?
Will put it on my list!
Enrico Pieranunzi
Wayne Horvitz
Fred Hersch
Tord Gustavson
Lynn Arriale
Kei Akagi
John W. Coates, Jr.
John Taylor
Paul Bley
Joanne Brackeen
Vince Guaraldi
Marian McPartland
Yes...indeed....
Bill Charlap
Renee Rosnes
i really like Marcin Wasilewski and i'm sure there's a dozen that rate up there with top US artists.
Why no George Duke also?
...Stefano Bollani, Bobo Stenson, Misha Alperin, Michael Grailler and the aforementioned Pieranunzi and John Taylor.
My favorite Pieranunzi is "Seaward." Just amazing.
Pieranunzi is a wonderful player. So are the others you mention that I'm familiar with...Hersch, Rosnes, McPartland, Brackeen...yes indeedy! Also a few there I don't know....the journey never ends.
dh
Pretty correct. Herbie Hancock ahead of Oscar Peterson for sure. He's been a huge, huge influence on modern jazz. I don't see Sonny Clark or Lyle Mays need to be there - I'd substitute Cedar Walton and the Pete Johnson-Albert Ammons duo. Gotta have some boogie in there!
Not doubt Hancock has been quite influential, but he doesn't have better
chaps that OP.
Harmonic skills would go to Hancock easily in my mind. Then there's the question of whether technical display and touch are limited by skill or deliberately by taste. Herbie played the Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony when he was 12 years old. He's not a technical lightweight, even though that might not be immediately apparent to some because he's not cast in the Tatum mold the way Oscar was.
Compositional chops? The winner there should be obvious.
Herbie would probably be in my personal top 5. Oscar would not. That's not a slam against Oscar, who was an amazing pianist. That said, I find more value in a player who helped shaped the vocabulary of the music in a big way than I do in a guy who sounds more or less like Tatum recorded in hi fi. It ain't all about fireworks.
dh
Perfect!
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
He has a few nice albums for background listening from the '50s and '60s. Just everything he did after 1970 is pretty much unlistenable, IMO. Especially the ones with Mraz and NHOP.
Long time no see! Hope you've been well. Great to see you around...
dh
Been busy with family. Hope you're doing well, my friend! Nice to hear from you.
Duke Ellington? If Ellington isn't mentioned then fook 'em into the next life.
Disappointment reigns in lists.
Mostly I view lists ranking any artists as something to do for those that have little to do.
May as well list favorite colors.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
Two great names.....I LOVE HORACE TAPSCOTT
I think I have everything he ever recorded.
A gift, a treasure.
Byard had the history of the music in his fingertips to summon at will.
Far too overlooked in the scheme of things.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
I probably have 6 or 7 Tapscott's. I love The Dark Tree
/
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: