European Pianists

[king ubu]

Does anyone know this disc? I remember reading a very positive review about it but never came around checking it out, it's by another Italian piano player, Salvatore Bonafede and features quite an interesting band:

Salvatore Bonafede - Journey To Donnafugata (CAM Jazz)

Recording information: Rome, Italy (05/12/2003 - 05/13/2003).

Personnel: Salvatore Bonafede (piano); Ralph Towner (classical guitar); Enrico Rava (flugelhorn); Ben Street (bass instrument); Clarence Penn (drums); Michele Rabia (percussion).

[A Lark Ascending]

I consider Pieranunzi to be a fine jazz pianist. However, he seems to be , in my opinion, two very different players.

Some of his CDs are very ethereal to the point where I find them rather dull and unswinging. On the other hand, some of his CDs are melodically and harmonically rich and to my ears truly delightful.

I know what you mean here, though the 'ethereal, unswinging' ones tend to be those where he's quite deliberately relating to Italy, like some of his Egea releases. They're only dull if you're listening from the direction of the American jazz tradition...I think he's doing something else here (I think there's a huge misunderstanding in America about much European jazz for that reason...but that's another tale).

There is a third Pieranunzi - I have a couple of group discs with well known others that sound distinctly mainstream. They don't make it back to the CD player often.

Infant Eyes and the Paris set are my favourites.

[A Lark Ascending]

This chap deserves much more attention. He's done some very free material in the past, but recently recorded these four - two solo, two trio:

More in the Jarrett/Mehldau/John Taylor world, though Law writes his own tunes (and they are good ones) rather than focusing on standards.

I play this earlier disc a lot:

You can get an idea of his extensive discography here:

http://www.nday.co.uk/discography.html

He seems to have something of a monastic fixation...both in the ecclesiastical and jazz sense!

[P.L.M]

No mention so far of Steve Beresford & Howard Riley and from a younger generation, René Bottlang (check his marvellous "Trilongo" on AJMI in trio) and jacques Demierre, another marvellous pianist from Switzerland.

By the way my two absolute favorite european pianist are Irène Schweizer & Alexander von Schlippenbach.

Yes, I know, they are not from the youngest generation but so it is.

An a belgium rec, if you like mainstream: Jef Neve (and also Free Desmyter!).

Edited August 19, 2009 by P.L.M

[Alexander Hawkins]

Good point about Steve Beresford! Played opposite him last night - he was in that fantastic trio with Alan Tomlinson and Roger Turner (in fact, playing piano, rather than toys etc., for the first time in this group).

Howard Riley puts me in mind of another guy - Alex Maguire.

Have we mentioned Sten Sandell?

[king ubu]

This one's lovely:

Stefano Bollani - Carioca (EmArcy / Universal Yurp)

[Rooster_Ties]

On 8/27/2007 at 8:27 AM, king ubu said:

 

pretty good one, but I guess not everyone's cup of tea...

Note to self to try and find this.  And it's on Blue Note, no less... -- !!

https://www.discogs.com/Trio-T%C3%B6yke%C3%A4t-Wake/release/574399

 

[jlhoots]

Kaja Draksler

[king ubu]

2 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Kaja Draksler

Yeah  

And Eve Risser (she and Draksler made a solo record, to which our own @Alexander Hawkins provided liner notes ... that's a lotta pianers!)

[jlhoots]

Eve Risser / Benjamin Duboc / Edward Perraud: En Corps Generation (Dark Tree CD)

[mjazzg]

That's a very good album indeed.  I was lucky enough to see the trio live about that time too

[Larry Kart]

Rene Urtreger (b.1934) is a world-class player -- Bud Powell-inspired, but he's his own man. A good deal of Urtreger on CD. I particularly like his work with the HUM Trio (Hum for Daniel Humair, Urtreger, and Pierre Michelot. There's a nice concert DVD with them backing Gary Burton in 1980.

[soulpope]

14 minutes ago, Larry Kart said:

Rene Urtreger (b.1934) is a world-class player -- Bud Powell-inspired, but he's his own man. A good deal of Urtreger on CD. I particularly like his work with the HUM Trio (Hum for Daniel Humair, Urtreger, and Pierre Michelot. There's a nice concert DVD with them backing Gary Burton in 1980.

This sublime piano solo recital comes highly recommended .... same applies here ... :

Edited October 18, 2018 by soulpope

[king ubu]

1 hour ago, mjazzg said:

That's a very good album indeed.  I was lucky enough to see the trio live about that time too

Yes! Wish I'd been able to catch that trio live! Their two albums rank highly with me!

[Д.Д.]

I agree, great trio. 

4 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Eve Risser / Benjamin Duboc / Edward Perraud: En Corps Generation (Dark Tree CD)

 

3 hours ago, king ubu said:

Yes! Wish I'd been able to catch that trio live! Their two albums rank highly with me!

 

Yes from me for Renato Sellani. This solo one, "Glad there is you", from his last years, is gorgeous.

 

[Peter Friedman]

Don't recall if British pianist John Horler has been mentioned.

[BillF]

Tubby Hayes' favourite - and mine - Terry Shannon:

 

[Peter Friedman]

Another good British jazz pianist.

[Clunky]

On 18/10/2018 at 2:32 PM, jlhoots said:

Kaja Draksler

I’ve just come across Draksler on a trio disc on Intakt. The sound the group achieve on PUNKT.VRT.PLASTIK is pretty astounding. It’s been on repeat without leaving my CD player for nearly 3 weeks.

Need to prise it out , to play the new solo disc by label mate Hawkins ....

[optatio]

MARIA BAPTIST: PIANO SOLO - SELF-PORTRAIT. MARIA BAPTIST MUSIC BAPTIST 3030 [2014]

[HutchFan]

Has anyone mentioned Pablo Held? He's a German pianist whose music I've enjoyed. 

I particularly like this release:

Elders (Pirouet, 2014)