What piano was in Van Gelder’s studio?

[Hardbopjazz]

During the 50's and 60's, does anyone know what piano Rudy had in his studio? I doubt artists brought their own pianos to the sessions.

[John Tapscott]

I have no idea what piano he had in the studio in the '50's and '60's. What I would like to know is what piano he had in the studio in the '90's? I've just been listening to John Hicks' "Beyond Expectations" trio Cd (very good, BTW). But the piano sounds very strange. It's a very "light" sounding piano, with little body or depth. In fact, on very fast runs it almost reminds me of an electronic keyboard. Hicks seems to be the pianist most affected by the van Gelder piano, but every pianist who recorded in that studio, even musicians like Kenny Barron, couldn't escape that sound entirely. When I see a piano CD recorded at van Gelder's in the '90's, I shudder, because I know what the piano is going to sound like.

[Parkertown]

During the 50's and 60's, does anyone know what piano Rudy had in his studio? I doubt artists brought their own pianos to the sessions.

Hey Tom,

Just in case you missed it:

previous thread

[Hardbopjazz]

Thanks.

[Parkertown]

You're quite welcome. B)

[Larry Kart]

To pick up on a point that could have been made in the thread that was linked to above, I believe that the distinctive sound of the piano on RVG's vintage sessions (which some people grouse about, including some musicians and other fairly knowledgeable folk -- see p.136-7 of Peter Pottinger's Bill Evans bio "How My Heart Sings" -- but that I, like many listeners of my vintage, more or less imprinted on) had less to do with the instrument(s) themselves and more to do with the way RVG miked them (very closely I would guess, perhaps in order to place control and balance of the piano sound in relation to the rest of the instruments, esp. the drums, more in his own hands).