Your favorite solo piano records

[Dub Modal]

In light of the new Hassan Ibn Ali archive release coming out, and the prior release of his solo work being so good, I wanted to get some recs on other great solo piano records.
 

What are some of y’all’s favorites and do you have a top 5? 

[T.D.]

I have trouble with numerical rankings, but these would probably be in the top 5:

If one side of an LP counts (the other side is a quintet),

This isn't an adventurous choice, but is right near the top:

Need more thinking time for others.

 

[Niko]

First to come to mind are two late Rene Urtreger albums, Onirica and Tentatives... The latter is what I mostly play when I'm a solo piano mood (which doesn't happen too often)

[HutchFan]

Ten solo-piano albums that I love:

• Richie Beirach - Breathing of Statues (CMP/Magenta)
• Sir Roland Hanna - Solo Piano: Free Spirit (Storyville)
• John Hicks - Hick's Time: Solo Piano (Passin' Thru)
• Andrew Hill - Hommage (East Wind)
• Earl Hines - Tour de Force (Black Lion)
• Keith Jarrett - Facing You (ECM)
• Enrico Pieranunzi - Perugia Suite (EGEA)
• Mal Waldron - Update (Soul Note)
• Randy Weston - Marrakech in the Cool of the Evening (Verve)
• Larry Willis - This Time the Dream's on Me (HighNote)

In alphabetical order, not ranked.

 

1 hour ago, T.D. said:

This isn't an adventurous choice, but is right near the top:

I've never heard that one.  I'm going to add it to my list.   

 

[JSngry]

I will have some Art Tatum, Paul Bley, Earl Hines, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Joe Bonner, Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Fredrick Chopin, Ludwig von Beethoven, Julius Eastman, John Cage, Sun Ra, and Ran Blake.

Among others. 

[BillF]

[HutchFan]

3 minutes ago, JSngry said:

I will have some Art Tatum, Paul Bley, Earl Hines, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Joe Bonner, Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Fredrick Chopin, Ludwig von Beethoven, Julius Eastman, John Cage, Sun Ra, and Ran Blake.

Among others. 

Nice list!  But which albums???

 

[JSngry]

3 minutes ago, BillF said:

[colinmce]

5 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Ten solo-piano albums that I love:

• Richie Beirach - Breathing of Statues (CMP/Magenta)
• Sir Roland Hanna - Solo Piano: Free Spirit (Storyville)
• John Hicks - Hick's Time: Solo Piano (Passin' Thru)
• Andrew Hill - Hommage (East Wind)
• Earl Hines - Tour de Force (Black Lion)
• Keith Jarrett - Facing You (ECM)
• Enrico Pieranunzi - Perugia Suite (EGEA)
• Mal Waldron - Update (Soul Note)
• Randy Weston - Marrakech in the Cool of the Evening (Verve)
• Larry Willis - This Time the Dream's on Me (HighNote)

In alphabetical order, not ranked.

 

Awesome list. 20 that I like:

Sophie Agnel - Capsizing Moments (Emanem)
Ran Blake - Painted Rhythms: The Compleat Ran Blake Vols. 1 & 2 (GM Recordings)
Dave Burrell - Windward Passages (hat ART)
Curtis Clark - Self Trait (FMP)
Marilyn Crispell - For Coltrane (Leo)
Andrew Hill - Mosaic Select - Solo (Mosaic)
Chris McGregor - In His Good Time (Ogun)
Thelonious Monk - Piano Solo (Vogue)
Sal Mosca – Too Marvelous For Words (June 1981, Five Concerts From The Netherlands) (Cadence)
Michel Petrucciani - Live (Dreyfuss)
Eve Risser – Des Pas Sur La Neige (Clean Feed)
Irène Schweizer – First Choice – Piano Solo KKL Luzern (Intakt)
Matthew Shipp - Piano Sutras (Thirsty Ear)
Martial Solal – Bluesine (Soul Note)
Sun Ra - Monorails & Satellites (Saturn)
Cecil Taylor - Erzulie Maketh Scent (FMP)
Pat Thomas – The Elephant Clock Of Al Jazari (Otoroku)
Keith Tippett - Mujician III: August Air (FMP)
Jessica Williams - All Alone (MAXJAZZ)
Larry Willis - Solo Spirit (Mapleshade)
 

[JSngry]

Just now, HutchFan said:

Nice list!  But which albums???

 

Any of them. All of them. Seriously.

Solo piano is an infinite self-sustaining universe unto itself.

One Earl Hines solo album? Impossible!!!

My recommendation (such as it is) is to just dive in, stay in, and be in no hurry to get out.

oh, add Red Camp to the list! 

[HutchFan]

6 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Any of them. All of them. Seriously.

Solo piano is an infinite self-sustaining universe unto itself.

One Earl Hines solo album? Impossible!!!

My recommendation (such as it is) is to just dive in, stay in, and be in no hurry to get out.

oh, add Red Camp to the list! 

O.K.  That works.

 

[JSngry]

Yeah, if we were talking about having to do this by buying records, that would be one thing. But today, between Spotify and Discogs (and/or equivalents), just get some starting points, dive in, and be in no hurry. Free education. 

But ok, here's one. Duke Ellington at the Whitney. That's a breathtaking record imo. 

[danasgoodstuff]

I've been recently enjoying Red Garland's two solo albums, Red Alone and Alone With the Blues, both cut the same day in 1960.  Hard-ish to find hard copies of but easy to find online.  Not that different from his more common trio playing, but a little different.

[HutchFan]

22 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Yeah, if we were talking about having to do this by buying records, that would be one thing. But today, between Spotify and Discogs (and/or equivalents), just get some starting points, dive in, and be in no hurry. Free education. 

But ok, here's one. Duke Ellington at the Whitney. That's a breathtaking record imo. 

Terrific record for sure.

 

EDIT
Prime EKE here too:

All solo, except for the last three cuts.

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by HutchFan

[Joe]

to name just 3 from the 70s

[rostasi]

[John L]

Interesting that nobody seems to have mentioned Bud Powell yet.   His solo recordings for Clef from February, 1951 are some of his greatest achievements on record (IMO).  

Then there is Jelly Roll Morton's solo session for General in 1940.  

Fats Waller also made some extraordinary solo recordings. 

[jlhoots]

John Lewis solo piano albums.

[Brad]

5 hours ago, HutchFan said:

I've never heard that one.  I'm going to add it to my list.   

 

It’s a fabulous album, especially the title track where he sings. 
 

Earl Hines’ Tour de Force albums are fantastic. So is the Mosaic Master Jazz Piano box. 
 

Edited November 4, 2023 by Brad

[Chuck Nessa]

I have something like 30 Hines solo discs. After that, I suggest you move on to Cecil.

A more carefully developed list may follow.

[medjuck]

Just because no one's mentioned it. 

[jazzbo]

 

 

[John L]

7 hours ago, Chuck Nessa said:

I have something like 30 Hines solo discs. After that, I suggest you move on to Cecil.

A more carefully developed list may follow.

I look forward to hearing what you believe to be the very best solo recordings of Earl Hines and Cecil Taylor.  

[porcy62]

Conversations with myself counts as solo piano?

15 hours ago, BillF said:

Yes!

[BillF]

11 hours ago, jlhoots said:

John Lewis solo piano albums.

👍

6 hours ago, jazzbo said:

 

 

 

 

 

👍

For something recent I'd recommend this: