What makes a great JAZZ PIANIST? Examples of outstanding artists and recordings

DC66703A-4960-416C-89A0-F63E9F574756

For the not too narrow-minded. If Monk can be here, so can (and should) Fess!

3 Likes

And of course, when naming the Professor, I shouldn’t ignore Allen Toussaint:

79783470-FC98-4EC1-9ADD-9D8E42A8759F

4 Likes

Hi Stephane — what a great recommendation!!! Thanks a lot!!! Petrucciani was the very first jazz pianist I saw live (at Ronnie Scott’s in London back in the early 1990s). He was my hero in the 90s (until his untimely death) and he still is. I have about 20 albums by him (including the two that he recorded with organist Eddy Louis — both are terrific).

Here are two more listening tips (for those less familiar with his work):

7 Likes

Congrats! I’m sure it’s going to be fantastic. I have tickets for his upcoming concert “4 By Monk By 4” in Rome, Italy (November 20th!). Can’t wait to see him - just one more week to go…:grinning:

Hi everyone! I think another great musician we simply can’t afford to neglect in this thread is Chick Corea. Here are two of my favorite recordings by him:

CC as a solo pianist and live performer - definitely worth listening to! One of the highlights on this album is Corea’s improvisation over 'Round Midnight (track 8).

CC and vibraphonist Gary Burton — two terrific artists inspiring each other. “Hot (house) stuff”!!!:sunglasses:

6 Likes

My last recommendation for today! Check out the album “Left to my own devices”. It’s Laurence Hobgood’s debut recording as a leader. Most of the time, he plays solo on this album, but on four tracks he accompanies vocalist Kurt Elling, one of my favourite jazz singers. A great listen! Have fun…

8 Likes

Very nice recommendation. This album by Hobgood is great, too.

4 Likes

Great recommendation…listening to it now on a lazy Los Angeles morning.

1 Like

Just in case folks are worried about the future of jazz:

2 Likes

And a favourite of mine, and not just 'cause he grew up in my dad’s neighbourhood. Strangely the review does not mention Hymn to Freedom, one of Oscar’s greatest.:

3 Likes

Hi @pwright92, I really can’t thank you enough for recommending Joey Alexander to us. I must admit I hadn’t heard of him before I read your post and I still can’t understand why not. When I saw the following YouTube video, it literally left me speechless and brought tears to my eyes. Despite (or perhaps due to) the simplicity of what this “young man” plays, he sounds like an experienced and mature artist…

In addition to “Countdown”, I also checked out the following two albums. After listening to them, I immediately bought and downloaded them. Thank you very much once again!!!

5 Likes

You beat me to it @Hans-Willi_Zerres. Just listened to the marvellous and marvellously accessible “Countdown”. Have just added his other three albums on TIDAL. :slight_smile:

1 Like

Bill Evans’ Sunday at the Village Vanguard is in regular rotation, I never get tired of the nuances of his playing. Dude was straight genius. And of course his piano work on Kind of Blue is part of what makes that album a classic.

https://i.imgur.com/yZoSypN.png

Also enjoy Ruben Gonzales.

https://i.imgur.com/gCefFCO.png

2 Likes

5 Likes

https://i.imgur.com/96Usgqo.png

I attended his concert tonight with the great Eric Alexander. Harold said that he is very proud of this album. It’s easy to know why. Just listen to it and be blessed with a sophisticated yet sound simple compositions with amazing singers.

4 Likes

@Julio
Yes, that’s a fantastic album. I’ve had “Afro Blue” since the very first day it was released and I really like it a lot. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen Mabern live. I envy you…:grinning:

Do you also have his album “The Leading Man”? It was recorded and released in the early 1990s. It’s probably my favourite recording by Mabern. This is what it looks like - for those who don’t know it yet…

EDIT:
I’m just listening to his latest release.
https://community.roonlabs.com/t/what-are-you-listening-to-now/8438/5400?u=hans-willi_zerres

7 Likes

Just looked up that concert (I live in Rome). Can’t make it unfortunately but it should be very interesting… 2 pianos and 4 pianists! One of them is another favorite I believe no one has mentioned yet: Cyrus Chestnut

2 Likes

CC live at KPLU! Great fun to watch…

2 Likes

And now for something completely different: https://jasonmoran.bandcamp.com/album/mass-howl-eon

https://youtu.be/xcM3lF4Es_s

1 Like

Bobo Stenson can be misjudged as one more of the calm, introspective ECM-style piano trio noodlers. But he is deeper than that. Granted, you have to like calm chamber jazz. This piece is by Ornette Coleman.
https://i.imgur.com/rv2mnzn.png

Tore Gustavsen can be similarly dismissed — in fact, I did dismiss him after many years. But my son brought him back to my attention.
https://i.imgur.com/d8cEX0a.png

2 Likes