Jazz piano biography

Blind from birth, the much-honored London-born George Shearing who, uniquely among the best jazz pianists, was a Sir, having been knighted in displayed an aptitude for the piano and accordion at an early age. He eked a living as a jobbing pianist for hire until emigrating to the US inwhere he quickly made a name for himself with his synthesis of swing, bebop, and elements drawn from classical music.

Dubbed The Marxist Mozart for his espousal of left-wing political causes, Texas-born Theodore Wilson was a virtuosic pianist who gained prominence in the swing era and worked as a sideman with some of the biggest names in jazz, ranging from Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman to Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Davis liked Garland for his Ahmad Jamal-like lightness of touch and use of space.

With his predilection for performing in an ornate style that comprised lush chords, liquid runs and complex syncopations, this Pennsylvanian from Pittsburgh was a child piano prodigy who first recorded in the 40s but blossomed spectacularly in the 50s. Even so, Brubeck could still play with imagination and elegance, and often composed music using unusual and asymmetrical time signatures.

Given that he once claimed to have singlehandedly invented jazz, modesty was most certainly not a recognizable trait in the character of this New Orleans pianist born Ferdinand LeMothe — though he wholly deserves recognition among the best jazz pianists. He started as an orthodox stride-style player but soon introduced innovations.

Though he began his recording career inhe was able to adapt to changing styles in jazz and kept recording until A jazz piano colossus. Pittsburgh-born Ahmad Jamal possesses a delicate, nimble touch and intuitively knows how to use space to good effect. Jamal first recorded for OKeh inbut it was later in the same decade when took his position among the best jazz pianists of all time, with the best-selling live album At The Pershingwhich took his music to a larger audience.

A master of musical understatement. From Allentown, Pennsylvania, Keith Jarrett started playing piano at the age of two and rapidly blossomed into a precociously gifted child prodigy steeped in classical music. As a teenager, Jarrett was seduced by jazz and quickly became fluent in its idiom. An intrepid improviser whose imagination knows no bounds.

This Harlem-born musician was the first pianist to approach the piano as if it were a horn instrument. As a result, Powell proved highly influential, even though his career was short he died aged 41, after years of mental health problems. The missing link between Art Tatum and bebop, his status as one of the best jazz pianists of all time is forever assured.

He also often attacks the piano with brute force, though he can also play with extreme delicacy, employing staccato right-hand runs. Renowned for ornate filigrees and a hard-swinging style, Peterson was a dextrous improviser. Reflective romantic ballads with lush chords were his undoubted forte, but Evans — who drew on both bebop and classical music for inspiration — could also swing with verve, especially in a live setting.

Emerging in the bebop dawn of the mid-to-late 40s, he pursued his own idiosyncratic path, creating a unique musical universe where angular but hummable melodies, dissonant cluster chords, and a lightly-swinging rhythmic pulse ruled. Watch this video on YouTube Click to load video 1: Art Tatum At the pinnacle of our list of the 50 best jazz pianists of all time is the man regarded as a keyboard deity.

Visually impaired from infancy, Ohio-born Art Tatum learned to play the piano by ear as a child and, blessed with perfect pitch, quickly excelled at the instrument. He patented a technically advanced, uniquely florid style from an early age that melded elements from stride, swing and classical music. Watch this video on YouTube Click to load video Looking for more?

Discover the 50 best jazz trumpeters here. Did someone forget Marian McPartland? Mary Lou Williams? Patrice Rushin? Diana Krall? Plus, Diana Krall happens to be married to my favorite musical artist of all time, Mr. Elvis Costello! Feather Fingers. I agree Diana Krall does not belong anywhere near this list. Dianna Krall is a fine musician but is she really a great innovative pianist or just a good all around pianist and entertainer.

I think you could make a strong case for Mary Lou Williams to be included on this list. This list is the all-time great jazz pianists. McPartland and Williams should probably make the list but the other two? Come on. I mean, he was definitely one of the greatests of all time. Oscar Peterson should have been at the no 1 spot. I was shocked to see Oscar at only 5.

My exact thought when reading this naive list. After TatumMonk and Evans its hard to set a pecking order, but the author needs to listen to Newborn; he was way ahead of many of the contemporaries listed. Phineas Newborn Jr should, of course,…. After Tatum, Monk, Lyrical Bill, there is a swarm of fine contenders. They have him ranked a little too high.

No Lenny Tristano at the list? How is this possible? Dave Grusin on the list? Before Andrew Hill? Cecil Taylor no 34? Keith Jarrett no 8? I think both three could be a little bit Higher. And Craig Taborn should be for sure on the list! Because I am not a sexist I can not forget of course one of my favorite Marilyn Crispell! Earl Hines would hold the No.

Another who could really deliver when the atmosphere was just right was Dorothy Donegan. Hey Charles. Yes, he diversifies his talent with bass and vibes but still deserves to be on the list of the greatest pianists. I think Marylou Williams should be rated higher. Cedar was awesome. Listen to him all the time. Always inventive, always funky.

Maestro, no question. Respect from England. Mal Waldron should just be in the top 5. And I am surprised that Brad Mehldau was not mentioned …. One of the main proponents of the Herbie Hancock school of jazz who played with everyone, including the Marsalisis and Kenny Garrett is a loser! And rock no less! Go clean your ears and learn some lineage!!

I knew Kenny very well when we were students at MSM…Most important he was a wonderful soul who made you feel important…. Whenever I scroll through these lists I am pleased to find my CD collection has so many of the folks listed!! The great Jessica Williams. Mine as well, John. No Eddie Higgins? No Eliane Elias? I have listened to most on the list and they are all good….

Everybody goes ape over Art Tatum. But he was all arpeggio and flash. Teddy Wilson and fats should be a lot higher on that list. Apart from that: Nobody misses Cedar Walton? Oscar Peterson 5?? Teddy Wilson 21 WTF? What about Milt Buckner? Ahmad told me this personally many times. Nat King Cole, was probably better known for his vocals, than being a piano player.

His piano playing, to me was rather too simplistic and mundane when compared with the likes of Red Garland and Oscar Peterson. To put Erroll Garner at 17 is ludicrous-if you listen extensively he is really unparallelled musically-also had a great technique and he was certainly the greatest composer among all the jazz giants. I happened to meet Erroll on tour in and he was the most self effacing lovely man you could meet.

Junior Mance told me in that everyone was blown away by Erroll in the early days in NY and they all wanted to play like him, Erroll is justifiably living a second life on the net and part of the problem for fans now is that Erroll died long ago and may have got overlooked somewhat. So he has to be right up there and is my favourite primarily because of his unique musicianship and his unmatched intros-beat that!

And note Erroll looked and sounded like he was having the time of his life-tragically died too young from lung cacer at 55yrs. I assume you mean the TOP 36? That is a strange number? I shall say it again Tristano is 50!! Duke Ellington was known more as a composer. As good as Duke was at composing, I believe that most people have not noted that he wrote the simplest tune melody in the history of music.

I play and little piano and guitar and fancy myself as fairly knowledgeable in guitar, bass and drums……Maybe I know just enough to get into trouble……no one can ever agree on any list……ever. Have to agree that these names could fit in there somewhere. They also seem to find the perfect balance between restraint and expressivity while the others are simply on another level.

Hey Daniel, yours is one of only few comments I could subscribe. Jarrett behind Monk? The very underestimated Dave MacKenna could be mentionned here. And Abdullah Ibrahim. And, of the jazz piano biography generation, Robert Glasper. And, and, and…. Grusin and James nice people! Hill, Cables and Hersch should be higher. And how about Jess Stacy?

Both Teddy W and Earl Hines felt he was their equal, and both are rightfully on this list. I personally think Mary Lou Williams should be somewhere on the list, maybe even Elaine Elias but there are a lot more great male jazz pianists than female. This is not the case with concert classical pianists. And Bill Evans really was the Master of them all.

I do have some issues with some on list but the top 5 in a different order is very good but is debateable in some people. His Commodore recordings are one of the jazz piano biography pinnacles of jazz. Gonzalo Rubalcaba should be on list, somewhere near the top. And Brad Mehldau, of course. Thanks Herman. And then I saw your post. I love Tete.

And George Gershwin! Lists are silly. You can always make the case for any of these folks but as time goes on people forget the greats of a somewhat earlier day. Duke should be in the top ten…wish he had recorded a solo album…. I disagree with the order of the entire list with the exception of Art Tatum. An I would move Bill Evans to 2 in jazz piano biography of Monk.

The next time a poll like this is conducted, it should be taken among all the living jazz pianists. I mean Brubeck should be in the top 5, and Dave Grusin in the top 10 just based on the contribution they have made to jazz over the years. Other than that, might as well throw darts. I rate him up with Monk and far better than Art Tatum in his jazz input.

Whats the reason for his omission. How does one compare pianists with different styles? Monk could have played like Tatum. Rather the genius opted to define his own style that fitted his original compositions and his improvisations. And the arguing goes on! If that surprises anyone. My interest is in most classical piano but admire jazz pianists who possess a solid thorough technique AND play with something resembling a pleasant singing tone.

I have no use for the percussive style virtually devoid of dynamics that many exhibit. I agree with a couple of dozen on the list, but I would have thought that Maryanne McPartland deserved an entry somewhere. I agree with the guy who thought Iturbi was a better jazz pianists than many on this list. Wow -as a Jazz piano lover I could care less about the order, though it might be nice to see a list of living piano players.

You should see the list I put together with the additional pianist mentioned in the comments here. My list is at 90 players, some of whom I have not heard before. I will enjoy the ride of just listening and enjoying…. Scott Joplin is on this list. Hmmm, has anyone ever actually heard Scott Joplin play?? No, is the answer. How laughable is this list.

Scott Joplin made about 6 hand played piano rolls, including a composition by W. C Handy but he certainly should not be on this list. A great list, but as many people already said, loads of pretty good pianists are missing! Gil Evans? Andre was a young European hanging around LA at the time. One guess where Previn got his inspiration!! There are so many great Jazz Pianists!!!!

They cannot possibly all fit in a list of 36 musicians!!! I guess the first 36 pianists are some of the best! Lists are a good way of focusing the mind, by making us consider who else could be there. Duke Ellington! What makes a great pianist, in any style of music, is not how fast or how many notes he can play, but his ability to develop the richest variety of colors.

I say: No way Jose! Awesome list! Take Five is consistently regarded as the greatest Jazz tune of all time by many. Dave was also the second Jazz artist to be on the cover of Time Magazine, only second to the venerable Louis Armstrong. Barry Harris? Nina Simone on keys as great a pure pianist as anyone? Billy Taylor? Randy Weston? I really think this is difficult work.

In time, Benny Green will need to be on the list as well. Maybe the original list was only 36 men. The best of all Jazz Pianist ist Keith Jarrett! In the combination of musical technique und being a great composer. Great list. WK is top ten for me. But the big name often overlooked is Sonny Clark — unmatched feel. Erroll Garner is a forgotten genius, should be placed at no.

Jazz piano biography: To Be or Not to Bop

Ketil Bjornstadt 3. Ahmad Jamal 4. Joe Zawinul 5. Herbie Hancock 6. Claude Bolling 7. Mc Coy Tyner 8. Hiromi 9. Oscar Peterson Gonzalo Rubalcaba These are the pianists who define jazz today. And it introduced modes and greater freedom to jazz. Next Bill would form a jazz trio that revolutionized the piano trio by making each instrumentalist, not merely supportive of the pianist, but a contributor of equal importance.

Moreover, Bill kept the flame going, traveling round the world, too busy to go into a recording studio. Coltrane has always been the first—though after Elvin and McCoy left him, the music of his last year was chaotic, obvious, cacophonous—leading to mass exits. Bill, on the other hand, completed his archetypal journey be going full circle.

Never forcing a things while maintaining the same body and hand position during loud or soft passages Keith simply lacked this physical advantage, making things worse when he stood up while playing. He was one of the few remaining, one of the last, groups in jazz that continued to carry the flame. The lives of other Romantic composers—Schubert, Schumann, etc.

But the sublime beauty and powerful emotion often thunderous in his last period, to Sept. You forgot Kenny Drew and Cecil Tayler should have had a higher range. And Scott Joplin on the list? Being an Old Cool Cat, I think that it is difficult to choose the top 50 let alone 36! Also worth a mention was Joshua Riffkin playing Scott Joplin. Diana Kroll mentioned by others continues to grow in stature, and should make the top Old hands playing very sweet music.

She is much admired by jazz pianists and the few jazz radio stations that still exist e. I think she should have made the list. No one has a timeless list of The Greatest. For instance we could compile a list of the best percussive players the list would completely change — if you get my drift. Alan Broadbent, Aaron Diehl, Hiromi, there are so many out there.

A list of the ten greats certainly would include Tatum, Evans, Bud Powell. Shearing, Oscar, Michele Le Grand for the few of us who have heard him live. Bill Charlap deserves recognition. Monk is in the Pantheon, not for his playing, but for the totality that he brings to the genre. They surely must be up there with the best. Brubeck was one of the most innovative pianists of his time.

Nat king Cole was a jazz pianist before he became a singer. So please give credit where credit is due. I think there are two important ones missing. First, Lennie Tristano had a bigger influence on jazz piano than most people think about. Tristano contributed some extremely interesting rhythmic perspectives. Secondly, Clare Fischer had a huge influence, and no one as far as I could see has mentioned him.

Herbie Hancock, several times during interviews, has jazz piano biography Clare credit for a significant part of his harmonic knowledge. And the list has 36 pianists because there are 36 black keys on the piano? Wow, Bill Evans before Oscar Peterson. Certainly Fats Waller should have been further up the list, and what about James P.

How Nat King Cole was left out boggles the mind, he was jazz piano biography crucial in developing the Jazz trio, a format that made Bill Evans and so many others so popular. Bill Evans is the greatest of all jazzpinaist. Oscar Petersson as you mentionedmissused his tecnical ability. Bill evans had an nusicality creativity and a deep the is unmatched by any player.

His beautifully sound and inovativ chord and sofisticated rythm was outstanding. He manged to allways play with such an high level despite his drug problem. He was a genious that contributed to the music as the great classical composers.

Jazz piano biography: Born and raised in Houston, Texas,

Bill is overrated. Herbie ranks higher as a complete pianist. And there is no way he should be higher up the list than Bud Powell. Lenny Tristano? Oh, I know. Lenny Tristano! How about Lenny Tristano? Or Dave McKenna. Don Shirley? Not sure what category he goes in. Nat King Cole was marvelous.

Jazz piano biography: Jazz piano is a collective term

And now heresy time. Second to none. But his playing is mechanical and soulless. After hearing a few songs I just want to move on to someone with with some heart in their playing. The top 10 is MINT………. McPartland because apart from her undoubted talent she was very gracious when I spoke to her between sets at the Hickory House. At 88 yrs I have heard most of the musicians on the various lists.

By the way nobody has mentioned George Zack, his contribution to Muggsies Someday Sweetheart and others really pleased me. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, everyone hears beautiful music as it appeals to their ear. This amazing musician has got to be the most overlooked jazz pianist of all time! Agree with many comments,especially Marion MacPartland.

And did I miss Dr Billy Taylor? What about George Gershwin? And Nat Cole? The list goes on ,doesnt it? Between Chucho and Art Tatum a toss up as I would have included John Lewis and everybody has their own list but this is YOUR list so there should be no criticism at all. Nobody can make a favorite list for someone else. If you made this list top there would still be people with their favorites not on it.

You explained that in the beginning so there should be no complaining. I did pick up a few names that I will make an effort to find for my own listening pleasure. Johnny Costa is comparable to Art Tatum. My list: 1. Meade Lux Lewis 2. Pete Johnson 3. Albert Ammons 4. Jimmy Yancey 5. Mary Lou Williams 6.

Jazz piano biography: The Thelonious Monk biography

Freddie Slack 7. Alan Toussant 8. Pinetop Smith 9. Hazel Scott Art Hodes. Who conducted this survey? A bunch of rock musicians????? You made an attempt that is insurmountalble for each have left an indubitable mark on jazz from Tatum to Evans to Brubeck to Jamal………but Chick……come on. No Kenny Barron but you have that crackpot Keith Jarrett on this list?

As with all harmonic instruments and probably even melodic ones there are so many elements in playing them. Greatest how; for what? There are a few names missing on your list, such as Vince Guaraldi, Russ Freeman, Dudley Moore, Egberto Gismonti, Claude Bolling; each of these have special talents that deserve mention. In short, I suggest you might devise a poll based on categories — such as as harmonic creativity, melodic creativity, originality, interpretation, composition and form building, playing technique, influence on other musicians etc etc.

I love Monk, but respectfully disagree about placing him at 2. If there is one piano player who, in my opinion, comes out tops in all categories it has to be the astounding Bill Evans. And from the older but still highly active! The problem with lists like this is that they draw a stagnant picture of a very vibrant art. Plenty more good jazzpianists!

Art Tatum definitely 1. I would not put Monk at 2. Also, McCoy should be higher ranking than 6. Maybe swap with Monk… But, still a pretty good list of all the greats I know of. Thank you! Of course then there is Erroll Garner. Downgraded by some because he was accepted by the unwashed masse and not given to pontification about the very real profound nature of jazz, he is hardly to blame that playing piano came so effortlessly to him or that he always believed audiences should be entertained.

Hell, he was playing the most complex chords and rhythmns long before self-described experts got around to giving them names. Sometimes I think Garner was not human. He did not have to rely on playing set riffs and pretending it was improvisation. He merely heard a song in his head and made up the new melody using that tune alone. He was completely ambidextrous and playing three against fours etc a horror to most human pianists was like taking candy from a baby to him.

He swung like no other. Sure some of the more obvious and elememtary things he did on piano could be imitated by lesser pianists. Taken as a wholehowever, I doub t there has ever been as spontaneously creative a pianist as Erroll Garner. Some scientists claim if you put a monkey at a typewriter and gave himyears or so, he would eventually write MacBeth or Romeo and Juliet.

Probably top ten. There were better pure piano players. But Art definitely deserves to be number one. Lists such as these are never definitive but are made to be debated and argued; to think of them in any other way is pointless. Ok, you gave us a Braxton and Threadgill set. Another vote for Al Haig. Have never really understood the Art Tatum worship.

A list like this is never going to please anyone. A brilliant musician like Marian McPartland being left off is inexcusable. And no Billy Taylor? Anyway, the list is an interesting exercise because it makes one think. Pianists are musicians and musicians are artists and not marathon runners, tennis players or race car drivers. Second, nobody remembers Mel Powell and Johnny Guarnieri?

The list should be extended to at least 88 names without ranking them. Pianists as any other professional musician are certainly competing with their art yet not for being ranked but for getting loved, respected, and paid well for their performances! Oscar Peterson number 2 after Art Tatum. I am glad that The Count and the Duke are in the top. Along with the guitarvibraphoneand other keyboard instruments, the piano is one of the instruments in a jazz combo that can play both single notes and chords rather than only single notes as does the saxophone or trumpet.

A new style known as "stride" or "Harlem stride" emerged during the s, predominantly in New YorkUnited States. James P. Johnson was a prominent proponent. The jazz piano biography hand was used to establish rhythm while the right hand improvised melodies. Mastering the various chord voicings—simple to advanced—is the first building block of learning jazz piano.

Jazz piano technique uses all the chords found in Western art music, such as major, minor, augmented, diminished, seventh, diminished seventh, sixth, minor seventh, major seventh, suspended fourth, and so on. A second key skill is learning to play with a swing rhythm and "feel". In jazz, the roots are usually omitted from keyboard voicings, as this task is left to the double bass player.

Jazz pianists also make extensive use of chord "extensions", such as adding the ninth, eleventh or thirteenth scale degree to the chord. In some cases, these extensions may be "altered" i. The next step is learning to improvise melodic lines using scales and chord tones. This ability is perfected after long experience, including much practice, which internalizes the physical skills of playing and the technical elements of harmony, and it requires a great natural 'ear' for extemporaneous music-making.

When jazz pianists improvisethey use the scales, modes, and arpeggios associated with the chords in a tune's chord progression. The approach to improvising has changed since the earliest eras of jazz piano. During the swing era, many soloists improvised "by ear" by embellishing the melody with ornaments and passing notes. However, during the bebop era, the rapid tempo and complicated chord progressions jazz piano biography it increasingly harder to play "by ear.

Jazz piano the technique and the instrument itself offer soloists an exhaustive number of choices. One may play the bass register in an ostinato pattern, popular in boogie-woogie style, where the left hand repeats a phrase numerous times throughout a song, as performed by Rob Agerbeek in "Boogie Woogie Stomp". The left hand can also be played as a melodic counterline that emulates the walking of an upright bass.

In stride pianosimilar to the earlier ragtime the left hand rapidly plays alternate positions between notes in the bass register and chords in the tenor register, while the right hand plays melody and improvises, as performed in George Gershwin 's "Liza". The right hand may play melodic lines, or harmonic content, chordally or in octaves.

It may also be played in lockstep with the left hand, using a double melody block chord called "locked-hand" voicingor Shearing voicing—a technique popularized, though not invented, by the pianist and set leader George Shearing. Jazz piano has played a leading role in developing the sound of jazz. Early on, Black jazz musicians created ragtime on the piano.

Q [ edit ]. R [ edit ]. S [ edit ]. T [ edit ]. U [ edit ]. V [ edit ]. W [ edit ]. Y [ edit ]. Z [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. List of the readers' top living jazz pianists. Grove Music Online 8th ed. Oxford University Press. ISBN Retrieved August 30, Pre s s s post Canadian Haitian Latin American Cuban.