Favorite Records by Living Pianists Since 2000

[HutchFan]

I'm curious.  Share some of your favorite records (albums, not songs) by living pianists that have been recorded since 2000.  For simplicity's sake, let's shoot for a list of 10 CDs.  (Or, if that doesn't float your boat, list however many you'd like.)  To keep the focus on the pianists, let's say that all of the recordings should be solo, duo (with bass) or trio (with bass & drums). 

One last thought: For the purposes of this thread, I have no interest in claims of "greatest" or "best" or "most important."  Honestly, I just want to know about the music that you dig, music that makes you sit up and say, "Hey, now that's something!"  Stuff that's valuable to YOU.   

So here's my list:

• Richie Beirach - Impressions of Tokyo: Ancient City of the Future (Outnote)
• Bill Carrothers - I Love Paris (Pirouet)
• Marc Cary - Focus (Motéma)
• Orrin Evans - Flip the Script (Posi-Tone)
• Frank Kimbrough - Quickening (OmniTone)
• Enrico Pieranunzi - Live in Paris (Challenge)
• Martial Solal - NY-1: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note)
• Kenny Werner - Beat Degeneration: Live, Vol. 2 (Sunnyside)
• Randy Weston - Zep Tepi (Random Chance)
• Larry Willis - This Time the Dream's on Me (HighNote)

 

And these would make my "Honorable Mention" list:

• Joey Calderazzo - Haiku (Marsalis)
• Marc Copland - Modinha: New York Trio Recordings, Vol. 1 (Pirouet)
• Vijay Iyer - Historicity (ACT)
• Steve Kuhn - Pastorale (Sunnyside/Venus)
• Bill Mays - Live at Jazz Standard (Palmetto)
• Jason Moran - Ten (Blue Note)
• Luis Perdomo - Universal Mind (Now Forward)
• Jean-Michel Pilc - Open Minds [released under the leadership of Mads Vinding] (Storyville)
• Edward Simon - Latin American Songbook (Sunnyside)
• Bobo Stenson - Indicum (ECM)
• Jessica Williams - This Side Up (MaxJazz)
• Denny Zeitlin - Slickrock (MaxJazz)

 

What say you?

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by HutchFan

[soulpope]

Just recently "discovered" by yours truly .... was not overly fond of Antonio Farao btw his euvre before, but this is a little gem - and for sure the terrific rhythm tandem Miroslav Vitous + Danier Humair is of help here ....

Edited October 12, 2017 by soulpope

[HutchFan]

Good deal, soulpope.  I'm going to add that Farao CD to my "to get" list.  

Edited October 11, 2017 by HutchFan

[paul secor]

Cecil: The Willisau Concert (Intakt)

[jlhoots]

Impossible task (at least for me). Sorry!!

[Larry Kart]

 

Chad Taylor/Angelica Sanchez -- "Circle Down" (482 Music)

Harold Danko -- "Hinesight" (Steeplechase)

Bill Carrothers -- "Swing Sing Songs" (Birdology)

Ben Patterson -- "Essential Elements" (MaxJazz)

Ehud Asherie -- "Swing Set" (Positone)

Guus Janssen -- "Out of Frame" (Geestgronden)

Dave Kikoski -- "Almost Twilight" (Criss Cross)

Sten Sandell -- "Solid Musik" (nuscope)

Joel Weiskopf -- "Devoted to You" (Cross Cross)

Bruce Barth -- "Live at the Village Vanguard" (MaxJazz)

 

[HutchFan]

Cool list, Larry!  I could have easily included a few from your list on mine as well.  That Bill Carrothers is great -- and I love that Dave Kikoski too.

There's also a couple names on your list that are completely new to me:  Guus Janssen and Sten Sandell.  Will investigate!   

[Larry Kart]

I like everything by Carrothers I've heard. Terrific guy, too. First heard him on Dave Douglas' "Moving Portraits."

I wanted to include Sal Mosca's "The Talk of the Town" and Don Friedman's "Timeless," but both Mosca and Friedman are gone now.

And I forgot to mention Ben Neuman's "Introductions" (Origin)

 

[kh1958]

Ahmad Jamal--Marseille

Chucho Valdes--Border-Free

Abdullah Ibriahim--Senzo

Jean Michel Pilc--New Dreams

Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte--The New Standard

Dave Burrell--Margy Pargy

Avery Sharpe Trio (Onaje Allen Gumbs)--Autumn Moonlight

Harold Mabern--Live at Smalls

Orrin Evans--It Was Beauty

Jason Moran--Ten

Edited October 12, 2017 by kh1958

[B. Clugston]

Steve Lantner had a couple of nice discs on Hat Hut: Given and What You Can Throw.

Our own Alexander Hawkins has been amassing some great releases as a leader.

[soulpope]

12 hours ago, HutchFan said:

 

• Orrin Evans - Flip the Script (Posi-Tone)

 

I`m not too familiar with Orrin Evans, but my best buddie (and dedicated jazz follower) recently raved about this one .... :

[Milestones]

Actually, this makes me think that aren't many pianists around these days that I really follow. Plenty of good pianists, but how many are distinctive and great?  I still get the most out of veteran Randy Weston.

 

 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

10 hours ago, kh1958 said:

Bebo Valdes--Live at the Village Vanguard

Sadly, Bebo passed away in 2013.

[HutchFan]

8 hours ago, soulpope said:

I`m not too familiar with Orrin Evans, but my best buddie (and dedicated jazz follower) recently raved about this one .... :

I agree with your friend. It's outstanding.   

I think Evans is at his best in a trio setting -- whether it's Faith in Action, Flip the Script, or It Was Beauty.  All three are terrific.

 

EDIT: 
In news that I would label odd but interesting:  Orrin Evans will be replacing Ethan Iverson in The Bad Plus, beginning next year.  See details here.  With Evans in the band, the trio will definitely move in a different direction.  I enjoy Iverson's playing -- but Evans' sound and approach is completely different.  . . . It's sorta like Al Green joining the Talking Heads.

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by HutchFan

[kh1958]

2 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

Sadly, Bebo passed away in 2013.

True; I didn't notice (duh!) the thread was limited to currently living pianists.

Edited October 12, 2017 by kh1958

[clifford_thornton]

10 hours ago, B. Clugston said:

Our own Alexander Hawkins has been amassing some great releases as a leader.

+1

[brownie]

Ran Blake 'Vilnius Noir' (NoBusiness)

Bill Carrothers 'Ghost Ships' (Sketch)

Steve Kuhn 'Live at Birdland' (BN)

Martial Solal 'Live at VV' (BN)

Stefano Oliva (Sans Bruit)

René Urtreger '75' (Carlyne

Randy Weston 'The Roots of the Blues' (Universal)

 

[medjuck]

10 hours ago, B. Clugston said:

 

Our own Alexander Hawkins has been amassing some great releases as a leader.

Beat me to it.

[HutchFan]

Nice to see all of the love that Bill Carrothers is getting here. 

Also fun to find many names that are new to me.  

 

A few more that I overlooked that could easily be added to my "Honorable Mention" list:

• Brazilian Trio [Helio Alves] - Constelação (Motéma)
• Alan Broadent - You and the Night and the Music (A440)
• Russ Lossing - Oracle (hat)
• Trio M [Myra Melford] - Big Picture (Cryptogramophone)

 

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by HutchFan

[Steve Reynolds]

Not going to list recordings but here are some of the living pianists that have piqued my interest (bedsides the well known names I like/love like Cecil Taylor)

Cooper-Moore

Kris Davis

David Virelles

Alexander Hawkins 

John Escreet

Lucien Ban 

Craig Taborn

 

[Chuck Nessa]

Disappointingly late in the game for Taborn's name appear.

[HutchFan]

2 hours ago, Chuck Nessa said:

Disappointingly late in the game for Taborn's name appear.

I'd love to see a list from you, Chuck.  

[Cyril]

Peter Beets - Quartet-NL ( with Han Bennink)

Craig Taborn - Junk Magic

Wolfert Brederode - Black Ice  

Matthew Shipp - Art of the Improviser

Harmen Fraanje  - Sonatala

Jason Moran - Refraction - Breakin' Glass

Barry Harris - Live from New York

Rein de Graaff - Duets

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by Cyril

[soulpope]

[relyles]

From a quick scan of my spreadsheet, these stood out as particularly memorable listening experiences limiting myself to one recording per pianist (which was especially difficult with Matthew Shipp):

Geri Allen | Flying Toward The Sound  | Motema Music
Kenny Barron | Book Of Intuition | Impulse!
Bill Carrothers | Joy Spring | Pirouet Records
Marc Cary | For The Love Of Abbey | Motema Music 
Orrin Evans | Faith In Action | Posi-Tone Records
Lafayette Gilchrist | Insideout | Creative Differences
Alexander Hawkins | Song Singular | Babel Label
Vijay Iyer | Historicity | ACT Music
Myra Melford | Life Carries Me This Way | Firehouse 12 Records
Aruán Ortiz | Hidden Voices | Intakt Records
Matthew Shipp | The Conduct Of Jazz | Thirsty Ear
Craig Taborn | Chants | ECM