I’m talking about musicians whose principal instrument is the piano – so not “keyboard” players who obviously also play piano brilliantly – e.g George Duke and Ian McLagan
Then there’s my favourite keyboard player of all – Garth Hudson, although I will post a video of him playing piano in the comments (once I’ve uploaded it)
THEN – there’s people like Rick Wakeman, whose piano on Life On Mars and Morning Has Broken is just so beautiful – pity about everything else. Funny guy though. Shame I don’t like his music more
And finally Mike Garson – love his playing on Bowie’s songs, haven’t heard much else of his that’s quite so inspiring
In compiling this list I found that they easily slipped into 5 categories. Read on…
1. THELONIOUS MONK
Honourable mentions for other jazz pianists – Teddy Wilson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Duke Ellington, Jaki Byard
2. JAMES BOOKER
Hon. mentions to other New Orleans musicians – Dr John, Jon Cleary, Allen Toussaint
3. RANDY NEWMAN
Other singers and/or songwriters who play piano – Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Elton John, Donald Fagen
4. NICKY HOPKINS
Other sidemen – Leon Russell, Billy Preston
5. KEITH EMERSON
Others known for being in just one or two bands – Steve Nieve, Bill Payne, Rick Wright, Chuck Leavell
Look forward to hearing the inevitable omissions…
I wouldn’t know a good piano player from Les Dawson. Did anyone watch The Piano telly show? I didn’t, but I read very good reviews. I’m surprised we’ve got this far down the thread without someone mentioning The Köln Concert. Part One is one of my favourite pieces of music ever. So I’d have to say Jarrett. Fascinating back story about the album on wikipedia too. Though I’ve never really taken to anything else of his I’ve heard. I guess he’d fit into category one.
I also like Dustin O’Halloran’s piano albums. Not sure what category he belongs to. He is in a sort of band, A Winged Victory for the Sullen, but his first albums were just him on piano and he’s not from New Orleans.
Of the ones you mention, Rick Wright, natch.
I also like Rick Wakeman’s playing on Bowie’s songs. And Mike Garson’s come to that. Oh and the guy who plays with The E Street Band.
No Dr John? (Ok, saw him mentioned in James Booker’s dispatches)
Can’t argue with any of those. Might add Oscar Peterson for his ability to play any damn thing.
I was expecting someone to mention OP. No list of great piano players is complete without his name. Any damn thing in any damn style.
Abdullah Ibrahim. Art Tatum. Bill Evans. McCoy Tyner. Ahmad Jamal. Brad Mehldau. etc. etc.
Actually, on reflection, I don’t actually like Art Tatum very much. Amazing technique and speed, dexterity but he overplays outrageously. Almost to the point of unlistenability. A stunt pianist.
Ben Folds.
With the Ben Folds Five (which has 3 members) the other instrumentation is bass and drums. When solo, his left hand is effectively the rest of the band.
Hurrr
Thelonius, Richter, Moura Lympany, Jarrett, McCoy Tyner.
Brilliant post. So brilliant, I have nothing to add. 😉
So true, @Tiggerlion.
Well done, @Mousey! You sum it up so very well.
It’s one of those situations where those who play keyboards may have a different opinion to us laymen, But that’s just perfectly natural.
BILL EVANS, BILL EVANS, BILL EVANS, BILL EVANS and … erm … BILL EVANS.
Bill Evans, eh?
Not for me I’m afraid. I know every piano player is supposed to revere him but apart from Kind Of Blue he just doesn’t appeal. Too introspective, verging on cocktail-y. OOAA
A few players I know have that opinion of him.
I’m not a pianist – but, on reflection, I think it’s the introspection that appeals to me and draws me in.
…anyway, Everybody Digs Bill Evans…
Chico Marx.
Liberace.
Ever see the film Behind the Candelabra? Good film, I thought.
Yes I have, superb film. Liberace was quite a guy.
For some reason most jazz musicians I know really don’t like Jarrett. The overplaying , the humming etc. But I have so many wonderful records of his I have to have him as my favourite.
Abdullah Ibrahim is often chided as being a bit predictable but the richness of those Sth African melodies are irresistible.
Third would be Tord Gustavson , that scandinavian stillness
Aretha is a great call a fully formed artist in every respect
Lastly I will opt for Jerry Lee Lewis.
I am, of course, not a pianist.
I used to list to the triple box set and Koln concert over and over again when they came out. I’d probably have one of them in my top records featuring pianists. But I don’t listen to him so much these days
I was going to say Abdullah Ibrahim too – I really like his lyricism.
Steve Nieve for me is also exquisite at times and then Dr John, Duke Ellington and Allen Toussaint.
Agree with many of the suggestions made. I would add Professor Longhair, as probably the best in that New Orleans style.
I also love Ramsay Lewis, Fats Domino and Huey ‘Piano’ Smith, so clearly my taste is for the boogie woogie side of things.
Schroeder. Unsurpassed.
Focussing on British jazz pianists for a moment, Michael Garrick is well worth investigating. A fine body of work, his best possibly being the album “Cold Mountain”. If you want to sample just one track of his, try “First Born”.
The wonderful Dustin O’Halloran. Discovered due to a Word CD many moons ago & someone who I have loved since. I saw him live last year & it was breathtaking. He gets across a lot of feeling in his piano playing & I have no idea how!
I would also add in ;
Akira Kosemura
Ben Folds (as mentioned above – well worth checking out his NPR tiny desk show on YouTube to see him in full flow!)
Nick Cave (especially when with Warren Ellis i.e. The Proposition OST)
Micheal Nyman
Yann Tiersen
Ok, I’m bias cos it’s one of my all time favourite movies, but I’d choose The Assassination of Jesse James (etc) as my Cave/Ellis soundtrack of choice.
*whispers quietly to not incur Garys wrath*
Despite having this on my shelf, I have never actually watched it (although I have listened to the OST).
I will try & remedy that this weekend
Gary’s wrath. I’d love to see that. He might even tut.
I will beat thee into handsomeness.
Well, you’d struggle to make me uglier.
1. Pascal Roge
2. Jean-Yves Thibaudet
3. Abbey Simon
4. Noriko Ogawa
5. Thomas Bartlett
Pleased to say that I have seen all of these perform, bar Abbey Simon, and alas he is no longer with us. Some will realise that it is interpretation of Ravel, Debussy and Messiaen that matters to me, with the honourable exception of Thomas Bartlett who took The Gloaming to somewhere extraordinary.
Partly for the name alone…. Axel Zwingenberger……
(I do actually have a couple of albums of his though)
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Richard Clayderman yet.
or Jools Holland
Or Mrs. Mills.
Russ Conway, the Django Reinhardt of ivory ticklers.
Whither Bobby Crush?
…
Jamie Cullum?
*tiptoes away in the manner of a pantomime villain*
Or Les Dawson. Apparently you have to be quite talented to play like that.
LD once earned a modest living playing the piano in a Paris brothel.
Plenty of bum notes there – oho!
Rubén González
Didn’t he also play left back for Southampton in the 80s
Forgot Ruben!. Loved his solo album plus of course the BVSC record
The Killer. Where’s The Killer? Ye Gods.
*searches thread again*
Ah, I see Junes mentioned him. Thank goodness for that.
And while I’m at it, where the flippin’ ‘eck is a mention of Nina?
I also forgot Glenn Gould. This footage always amazes me;
Astonishing.
In no particular order:
Wilhelm Kempff
John Ogdon
Angela Hewitt
Ahmad Jamal
Bill Evans
A few that should be mentioned…
Martha Argerich.
Esbjörn Svensson.
Carla Bley.
Another up for Martha Argerich…
Geraint Watkins – purely for the joy and entertainment.
Benny Andersson pretty influential.
Absolutely! Who doesn’t love Thunderbirds.
Er…but he’s called Gerry. Oh well. They made some nice ice cream together. I recommend Karamel Sutra.
Some talented pianists who may never be included in a list of talented pianists:
Elton John
Jools Holland
Albert Lee
Duke Special
Chris McGregor
Gladys Mills
Bruce Hornsby
Yes, indeed – Elton will always be overlooked in a list like this (apart from by your good self, of course): but he’s a superb piano player.
Bruce Hornsby is magnificent when a hired hand. His playing with Bonnie Raitt is just wonderful.
In no particular order
Hilda Woodward
Mstislav Rostropovich
Ed Balls
Winifred Atwell
Johnnie Johnson
I know some of you will be anxious for confirmation that Bobby Crush, mentioned earlier in the thread, is indeed the new Vice President of the Players Theatre, and was in the audience at their recent show at Wilton’s Music Hall.
I’ve never actually heard the Rostmeister at the joanna, but he is of course the don of the violincello.
I wondered about that. Has he recorded any piano? Like Moose, I only know him as a cellist and conductor.
An accomplished pianost, lthough in truth I only included him to see if anyone actually read the comment.
More seriously, Benjamin Britten’s piano playing on the recording of him and Rostrapovich playing Britten’s cello sonata is a favourite.
Really? How quaint of you…
If it is speed you want then Chucho Valdez is king
Hania Rani gets my vote
Can’t say that I’m a connoisseur of the ivories but I’m always happy to hear Bill Lawrence’s contributions to Snarky Puppy’s sound. Here he is with them on one of his compositions…
It’s Laurence not Lawrence.
Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Diana Krall, Bud Powell, Elmo Hope, Cedar Walton, Mary Lou Williams, Bobby Timmons, Nat “King” Cole, Michel Petrucciani, Wynton Kelly, Willie “The Lion” Smith, James P. Johnson, Horace Silver, Erroll Garner, Fats Waller, Liam Dunachie, Neil Angilley Tim Lapthorn etc. etc.
Erm … I’m afraid you’re both wrong!
It’s Bill Laurance, not Laurence or Lawrence
https://billlaurance.com/
… unless there are two jazz pianists with very similar names…
You’re absolutely right duco01, that’s him. In my defaunce (ho ho) several shandies had been taken at the time of posting. Still a cracking tune though…
Oscar Peterson?
Also mentioned further upthread…
Lennie Tristano, of course…
Nicky Hopkins.
He’s a session man. A top musici-an. A chord progressi-an.
From the past:
Jan Johansson
Andrew Hill
Jimmy Yancey
Dave Brubeck (I’m amazed I’m the first person to mention him!)
Herbie Nichols
From the present:
Marcin Wasilewski
Shai Maestro
Greg Foat
Bobo Stenson
Ketil Bjørnstad
Pete Judge
Brubeck has never been cool, has he? Despite making some really stunningly good records. And being very popular with the 13-year-old Donald Fagen.
You’re right, Moosey. Dave Brubeck has never been cool.
But I’m sure if you played someone “Jazz Impressions of Japan” and didn’t tell them who the artist was, they’d think it was incredibly cool. Fantastic album.
If all he’d ever done was Time Out and the Disney album he’d still be one of the greats, as a bandleader at least.
Jazz Impressions of New York too, another tour de force. Let’s not forget Paul Desmond and a truly great rhythm section.
Paul Desmond. What a magician.
I really like his album with Gerry Mulligan – it should have been called Beauty and the Beast.
And then there’s Dialogues for Jazz Combo and Orchestra, with Leonard Bernstein and the NY Phil. The music sounds like it was written by Bernstein too, but it was written by Brubeck’s brother Howard. Absolutely epic – hear the first of four movements.
Bloody hell I missed Jimmy Yancey!
Come on guys
Jools Holland. Cuh.
If you’re just going on Uncertain Smile that’s actually a reasonable shout.
However other crimes have to be taken into consideration.
Bud Powell
Murray Perahia
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Barry Douglas
Red Garland
The jazz players really dominate don’t they? Guitar , bass , drums, rock would have far more nominees.
This struck me too. Do Afterworders see piano as primarily a vehicle for jazz? I am surprised that so few have mentioned classical pianists.
There seem to be a fair few mentioned, Chesh – how many were you expecting?
Well, Moura Lympany was the first mentioned until well down the thread.
Well, ok, wouldn’t want to fall out about it…could argue about what constitutes “well down the thread” when we’re over 100 responses – but fair enough. Maybe if I’d added my five choices earlier….
I realise I didn’t have any classical players in the OP, and while classical piano was a huge part of life I can’t say I really had favourite players that I could identify musically as in – ah that’s Barenboim playing that Mozart sonata.
I should however have put in Glenn Gould as he was such an idiosyncratic and fascinating player. I also like Aldo Ciccolini playing Satie.
Very very few rock drummers are anywhere near as good as the best jazz drummers that I have seen.
To put it another way, jazz bandleaders don’t recruit musicians with the words “Must have rock chops”
Or “click track provided”.
….from a recording of Elvin Jones’s hi-hat pedal.
I’m not sure it’s a relevant comparison. Doubtless the principal violinist of most orchestras is “better” than, say, Dave Swarbrick or any country fiddler. So what. They’re better at doing something different. I’m not at all anti technique BTW, I laugh at the “best drummer for the xxxx band ” etc excuse for limited players who are nevertheless lovable. I’m just not sure a top jazz drummer would do so well on a 40 date US tour, followed by writing and recording an album, for example.
@ junior-wells “The jazz players really dominate don’t they?”
Well, all lists become a procession of “yeah but, have you heard this one?” after a while, don’t they? Lists on a message board like this are just a legitimate form of showing off! Admittedly, I’m guilty of this.
Here’s a bloke who definitely deserves a mention, Fergus McCreadie:
https://fergusmccreadie.bandcamp.com/
And here’s a bargain box:
https://www.discogs.com/release/15724483-Various-Ultimate-Jazz-Piano-Collection-Vol-1
Any comparison with jazz players like Oscar Peterson is futile, so I’m having a genre split.
Jazz
Oscar Peterson
McCoy Tuner
Keith Jarrett
Bill Evans
Theloneous Monk
Rock
Bill Payne
Nicky Hopkins
Little Richard
Rick Wakeman
John Evan
John Evan – good choice!
Always right in the money across a bunch of styles, and you always know it’s him. Plus he played the intro to “Locomotive Breath”.
“By kind permission of…” on the Living in the Past album was a bit of a showcase of his talent, as I recall…
Ah yes, forgot about that. **Eyes the vinyl**
A few more worthy of mention:
Victor Feldman
Chick Corea
Herbie Hancock
Lyle Mays
Laura Nyro
Aretha Franklin
George Duke
Ralph Towner
Michael Omartian
Hi @nickduvet !
Never thought of Towner as a pianist such is his guitar prowess.
Yes mate, not even his main instrument. Love his playing though. Was listening to ‘Diary’ just yesterday.
Hijacking the thread for a moment. Manu Dibango, the Soul makossa hitmaker put out a couple of albums of solo piano. Pretty saccharine to be honest but he knew his way around the ivories. Cant find a link to that stuff.
Decent vibes player too iirc.
Fats Waller
Artur Schnabel
18 pianists for the price of one…
Hauschka aka Volker Bertelsmann is interesting, in that he plays the whole piano, frame and all, not just the keys, which, of course then reminds me of Nils Frahm and Olafur Arnalds. File with Dustin O’Halloran, I guess.
I guess one could find room in that company for Poppy Aykroyd, Luke Howard, Chad Lawson, Joep Beving, Bruce Brubaker and Keith Kenniff AKA Goldmund amongst others.
Shout out to Rainier Bruninghaus too
Oh yes. Good shout. I really like “Freigeweht”.
Jason Rebello.
Teenage prodigy of British jazz in the late 80s then got into jazzy funk stuff and spent time in Sting’s band, but a few years ago began playing shows on solo piano. His album ‘Held’ is exceptional, with a lyrical touch similar to Keith Jarrett but with plenty of Rebello’s own character, and the type that many non-jazzers would find accessible. It’s been my most heavily played CD of recent years.
Toured with Jeff Beck for years too. I saw him at the Jazz Cafe on my second date with Mrs. T and he was already excellent back in 1992.
Nils Frahm anyone? Made quite a few piano only albums which tend to be a mix of experimental, minimal but invariably very beautiful. His concert showpiece is usually this (although it does include non acoustic piano).
6 hours and 10 minutes ago? 😉
Or a Keith Jarrett Sun Bear box set ago?
I like Frahm’s stuff, and also Poppy Ackroyd.
Can the Mods do a breakdown of where people come from or is that impossible ?
I can think of about 5 Aussie residents who post on here and 3 lapsed. Mojo , GaryJohn , Shane Pacey, all of whom I still have contact plus Jack The Biscuit. Gotta be a lot more.
Currently I can think of Moi, Thep, Cookie Boy and Podsicle.
Did you mean to post this here? Everygoodboydeservesfruita turns out to live in Brisbane.
Also last I knew, jackthebiscuit lived in Cumbria, no?
Err no I didn’t Mike. Shoulda been Moose’s double hamper thread.
I thought JTB is a Brit living in Sydney. But Twitter handle has @Merseyside so clearly is misapprehension.
Les (JTB) resides on the Wirral.
Mousey!
Yes Anyway given the errant location of this byway I should desist from adding to it.
The guy who played the beautiful break with Van on ‘In the Garden’ (Night in SF) and ‘Not Supposed to BreakDown’ (Philosopher’s Stone). Wonderful playing. Not sure who it was, or if it’s the same player on both?
This guy ….
Kenny Barron is a great mainstream jazz pianist.
An 80-year-old veteran still very much doing it.
This year’s solo album “The Source” is a fine one.
Oh yes! I sense an approaching CD purchase.
Just announced Maurice El Medioni has died aged 95 so I thought I’d add this.
Another top ivory-tickler who’s just left us is the great Maurizio Pollini.