mikeweil Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 Okay, please tell: Who are your top five favourite living (!) jazz pianists? I repeat, alive and playing. We all love Bud and Tatum and you know who, Bud (Note: this is such a nice Freudian Fehlleistung that I do not want to edit it out) I want to talk about those who are alive and kicking! My top five: 1. Herbie Hancock 2. Geoffrey Keezer 3. Marcus Roberts 4. Ahmad Jamal 5. Mulgrew Miller Quote
J Larsen Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 I apologize for the very obscure reference, but can any NYers reading this remind me of the name of the Bud Powell-esque pianist who plays regularly at Small's?? I *always* forget the guy's name. Anyway, he makes my list, in addition to Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. I'm tempeted to add Chick Corea, but I'm not very familiar with his more recent work. Quote
Kari S Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 Are we talking pianists with "legendary" status or just pianists who are alive and well? Anywhooo here's my current favs list (although it changes on a weekly basis). Basic stuff, really - but these guys are the best. 1. Herbie Hancock 2. Chick Corea 3. Brad Mehldau 4. McCoy Tyner 5. Keith Jarrett Quote
mikeweil Posted March 9, 2003 Author Report Posted March 9, 2003 Anybody who is alive and still playing is eligible, no matter how popular or legendary or obscure he/she is. If your favourite is the pianist of your hometown jazz club and never toured, it's alright with me, as is Herbie Hancock ... Quote
Michael Fitzgerald Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 Pretty sure the pianist at Smalls you are thinking of is Sacha Perry. He plays with, among others, the Chris Byars Octet, which did a Gigi Gryce evening with me last November. This group is playing at Smalls this evening (March 9) and will revisit some of the Gryce material. Mike Quote
Green Dolphin Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 1.Paul Bley 2.Keith Jarrett 3.Andrew Hill 4.Brad Mehldau 5.Uri Caine Three legends and 2 relative newcomers-as a piano nut there's too many to choose from.It wouldn't be so dificult to pick out,say, tenor players or guitarists, but drummers are another lot I'd find it hard to squeeze out five favourites. Great board by the way,and glad to be aboard. Quote
catesta Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 McCoy Tyner Ray Bryant Kenny Barron Richard Wyands Oscar Peterson Geoff Keezer is a runner up. Quote
John Tapscott Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 Off the top (and yes, it may change tomorrow) Kenny Barron Oliver Jones Dick Hyman John Hicks Dave McKenna Tomorrow's list may include McCoy Tyner, Oscar Peterson, Harold Mabern & John Bunch Quote
sheldonm Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 Dave Brubeck Ahmad Jamal Harold Mabern (I like his work) B) McCoy Tyner Oscar Peterson Quote
paul secor Posted March 9, 2003 Report Posted March 9, 2003 Cecil, Cecil, Cecil, Cecil, and Cecil! If I had to choose four more - maybe Jay McShann, Duke Jordan, Randy Weston, and Dick Katz. I'm sure I'm leaving out someone whose playing I love, but this is off the top of my head. Quote
J Larsen Posted March 10, 2003 Report Posted March 10, 2003 Pretty sure the pianist at Smalls you are thinking of is Sacha Perry. Thank you! I really think he's an incredible player. Quote
tomjr Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 In no particular order: Bill Charlap ~I caught his trio at Sculler's in Boston, when an ice storm EMPTIED the place before the second set.... Bill personally invited me up to the seat right next to his piano bench. As much as I love Written in the Stars, that performance knocked me out. His subtlety really shines through when you're sitting 2 feet from the keyboard. Brad Mehldau ~Art of the Trio III, IV, and V stil knock me out. The real deal as far as I'm concerned Keith Jarrett ~I've had to pass on the live shows in Boston the past two years, as they are too pricey for me. Keith's ballad playing hits a soft spot for me, and he plays the blues like the saddest man alive. Kenny Barron ~Live at Bradley's and the duo discs with Charlie Haden and Regina Carter gets lots of airtime around here Jason Moran ~So respectful of jazz tradition that he's willing to put it all aside in the heat of the moment and play whats inside him. Word... Tom Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 I'm pretty much in agreement with Paul Secor, with one noted exception. I refuse to acknowledge someone named after "cruelty to animals". Quote
Dan Gould Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 Junior Mance (the greatest blues player left, since Gene Harris passed) Cedar Walton Harold Mabern Eddie Higgins (hearing him live here in Florida makes all the difference) Mulgrew Miller Quote
John L Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 Three of my favorites haven't been mentioned yet: Hank Jones, Randy Weston, and Misha Mengelberg. I would add maybe Andrew Hill or Ray Bryant or Ahmad Jamal or Cecil Taylor or Cedar Walton or McCoy Tyner or... Quote
Jim R Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 I just recently got hip to what Eddie Higgins has done over the last 20 years or so, and what he's doing right now. He's my current favorite, hands down. I've always like Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Barry Harris. I dig Marian McPartland. I also like Bill Charlap a lot... Quote
Clunky Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 Lots of really good newish players out there. Of these newer palyers I particularly like Ethan Iverson David Berkman Jason Moran Dave Milligan Craig Taborn seeing Vijay Iyer on Thursday so he might make a challenge of the current top five. Also rans would be George Colligan, Esbjorn Svensson and Brian Kellock/ Chick Lyall from my neck of the woods. I suddenly realise how much piano I listen to. Quote
desertblues Posted March 11, 2003 Report Posted March 11, 2003 Bill Charlap, Geri Allen, Herbie Hancock and Horace Parlan (I think he's still kicking...) Quote
SEK Posted March 12, 2003 Report Posted March 12, 2003 In no particular order: Randy Weston McCoy Tyner Abdullah Ibrahim Andrew Hill Bobo Stenson Quote
michel devos Posted March 12, 2003 Report Posted March 12, 2003 I would go (for the living ones...) Keith Jarret Herbie Hancock Joanne Brackeen Dave Brubeck For the ones who left... Errol Garner Michel Petrucciani Bill Evans Quote
James Posted March 12, 2003 Report Posted March 12, 2003 Not in order: Mike Wofford, Denny Zeitlin, Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, Kenny Barron Quote
EKE BBB Posted March 12, 2003 Report Posted March 12, 2003 -Keith Jarrett -Cecil Taylor -McCoy Tyner -Andrew Hill -Hank Jones Quote
Brad Posted March 13, 2003 Report Posted March 13, 2003 Well, I've seen Charlap a bunch of times here in New Jersey and so I like him. The last time I saw him he explained to the people in the club what he was doing and why he was doing. It was fascinating to hear his explanations. Quote
JohnS Posted March 13, 2003 Report Posted March 13, 2003 These are my favourites in no special order Paul Bley Kenny Werner Uri Caine Myra Melford Too many tie for number five. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted March 15, 2003 Report Posted March 15, 2003 Cecil and Andrew Hill, for sure. I wasn't thinking of Ray Bryant, but after I saw him live and heard him play the hell out of 'After Hours' (just like on that Rollins/Stitt album!), he's got to be there. And what do you guys think of Stephen Scott? I have to say, I really enjoyed his playing when I saw him with Sonny. Monster solo on 'Tenor Madness'. And, I've only got one disk of his (at present), but on the basis of that and a live show, Muhal Richard Abrams gets my vote no.5! Quote
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