mgraham333 Posted January 23, 2006 Report Posted January 23, 2006 (edited) Jazz journalist Gene Rizzo surveyed the top jazz minds in the worlds of education, publishing and entertainment to rank the 50 greatest jazz piano players of all time. Those surveyed ranked players spanning an 80-year period on skill, originality, creativity and influence. Rizzo collected these results, along with historical photographs of the featured pianists, in the appropriately named volume “The 50 Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time.” NPR Broadcast Just a few of the rankings 1. Oscar Peterson 2. Bill Evans 3. Bud Powell 4. Art Tatum 7. Andre Previn 10. Red Garland 15. Thelonious Monk No Andrew Hill Edited January 23, 2006 by mgraham333 Quote
Stereojack Posted January 23, 2006 Report Posted January 23, 2006 Just a few of the rankings 1. Oscar Peterson Yeah, right, the greatest of all time! Quote
MartyJazz Posted January 23, 2006 Report Posted January 23, 2006 Just a few of the rankings 1. Oscar Peterson Yeah, right, the greatest of all time! And Previn at #7 to boot. What a joke!!! Quote
Nate Dorward Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Jazz journalist Gene Rizzo surveyed the top jazz minds in the worlds of education, publishing and entertainment to rank the 50 greatest jazz piano players of all time. I'd imagine the list of "the top jazz minds" would be more entertaining & revealing than the supposed list of the 50 greatest pianists. Quote
J.A.W. Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Jazz journalist Gene Rizzo surveyed the top jazz minds in the worlds of education, publishing and entertainment to rank the 50 greatest jazz piano players of all time. I'd imagine the list of "the top jazz minds" would be more entertaining & revealing than the supposed list of the 50 greatest pianists. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 I remember flicking through this at a store the other day. Am I right in thinking that Cecil Taylor doesn't make the top hundred? I could be imagining it, but it wouldn't surprise me given the list as it stands... I'm not sure I understand the mentality of such lists in any case. Quote
Ken Dryden Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 I afraid that surveys like this are beyond useless unless you only survey actual jazz pianists. I would trust them more than also including critics, publishers and miscellaneous entertainment people. Jaki Byard didn't even make the cut, Previn #7 (I enjoy him, but it's hard to see him making the top 50 at all). Quote
ep1str0phy Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) I remember flicking through this at a store the other day. Am I right in thinking that Cecil Taylor doesn't make the top hundred? I could be imagining it, but it wouldn't surprise me given the list as it stands... I'm not sure I understand the mentality of such lists in any case. Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. Originally, it made me want to punch a wall. Then I remembered that I don't give a damn about these lists. Edited January 24, 2006 by ep1str0phy Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) top jazz minds from the worlds of "education, publishing and entertainment"... No wonder the list is a bit askew. Although Andrew Hill not being in the list isn't necessarily a huge slight. It depends on how many living, active musicians made the list. For instance, if only 5 or 10 of the chosen fifty are still alive, then I could see Hill not rising to the ranks of the "top 50". (I mean, sure, I'd put Hill in there in a heartbeat -- but then how many "jazz educators" do you know who would?? Or publishing people?? Certainly not "entertainmet" people.) Anybody got the full list, and can post it here??? Edited January 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) Which raises a good question... What LIVING jazz pianists would you include in a list of the top-50 jazz pianists of all time?? Andrew (at least in my book), Herbie, and probably McCoy. Cecil, for sure (even though I'm not big on him, he's gotta get his due). Who else?? Chick?? You gotta think that there's probably only room for 10 living players -- at most -- on a list of the top-50 of all time. Edited January 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) isn't "top jazz minds" an oxymoron? just kidding really, as I'm trying to be less negative today (as I caught some flack yesterday for pooping on a thread) - look at the good side - at least he mentions Al Haig, I seem to recall (unless I am mistaken) - Edited January 24, 2006 by AllenLowe Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 let's see - top jazz minds: Scott Yanow Kenny G Stanley Crouch Leslie Gourse Allen Lowe Sal well, I think that gets all of them - Quote
Jim R Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Which raises a good question... What LIVING jazz pianists would you include in a list of the top-50 jazz pianists of all time?? Andrew (at least in my book), Herbie, and probably McCoy. Cecil, for sure (even though I'm not big on him, he's gotta get his due). Who else?? Chick?? You gotta think that there's probably only room for 10 living players -- at most -- on a list of the top-50 of all time. Give it up. That's the point you're missing here. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) Not even room for 5 living players? Edited January 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) OK, that's it. I call bullshit. I'm listening to the NPR interview about this thing just now, and although I didn't catch his ranking -- BENNY GREEN made the list. BENNY GREEN!!!! He's a fine player and all, but who the hell thinks Benny Green is one of THE top-50 jazz pianists of all time???? Edited January 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) OMG, Benny Green was #6 on the entire list!!!!!!!!!!!! What a joke. Edited January 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
JSngry Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 I'll say. How did a trombone player make the list? Quote
Spontooneous Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Just keep telling yourself: It's only a Hal Leonard book. It's only a Hal Leonard book. It's only a Hal Leonard book. It's only a Hal Leonard book. It's only a Hal Leonard book. It's only a Hal Leonard book. Quote
Free For All Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 I'll say. How did a trombone player make the list? They transcend categorization. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) Excuse me, just how "off" is your "jazz experts" sample (supposedly "hundreds of people" according to the interview) -- if they collectively pick Benny Green as #6 on their all-time top-50 list, and put Monk all the way down at #15. And could a "jazz experters" sample be any "off"-er?? Seriously now, how many people -- when polled -- had to have picked Benny Green as their personal #1, #2, or #3 -- in order for him to have ranked #6(!) in the overall standings. Either that, or EVERYONE in the entire sample picked Green somewhere around #6 (plus or minus a couple ranking positions). It defies any and all reasonable explaination. That sample must skew REALLY older and REALLY conservative. Edited January 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 I'll say. How did a trombone player make the list? Quote
JSngry Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Randy Weston, Ran Blake, Muhal, Paul Bley, Dave Burrell, they're all living. However, whether any of them is more worthy than Peterson, Evans, Previn, & Green of being included on this list is highly debatable... Quote
JSngry Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 I'll say. How did a trombone player make the list? Wasn't aware that the guy had changed instruments. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Personally, I think this list clearly points to a deficiency among the "top jazz minds in the worlds of education, publishing and entertainment". Quote
JSngry Posted January 24, 2006 Report Posted January 24, 2006 Personally, I think it shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Quote
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