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Feb 16, 2024 · The 50 Best Jazz Pianists Of All Time. From iconic bandleaders to unique talents, the best jazz pianists both shaped the genre and revolutionized the role of the piano in music.
- GRP Records
“It was in the tradition of Jazz at the Philharmonic. Norman...
- Bessie Smith
So much more than a blues singer, Bessie Smith was an icon,...
- The Duke Plays Ellington
In 1989, 15 years after Ellington’s death, The Duke Plays...
- Birth Of The Cool
Recording Birth Of The Cool. Arranger and Capitol talent...
- ECM Records
The 50 Best Jazz Pianists Of All Time. Most Popular. One...
- Best Jazz Trumpeters of All Time
Look no further than our rundown of The 50 Best Jazz...
- George Shearing
As a British jazz musician who rose to became something of a...
- Smooth Jazz
Discover the best jazz saxophonists of all time. ......
- GRP Records
- Thelonious Monk. Thelonious Monk was instrumental in the birth of bebop, playing in famous jam sessions at Minton’s Playhouse with Charlie Christian and Kenny Clarke in the late 1930s, but his sparse, angular playing is very different to the typical bebop piano sound .
- Art Tatum. Art Tatum was blind from infancy and mostly self-taught as a pianist, but he is considered by many to be the ultimate virtuoso in all of jazz.
- Oscar Peterson. Oscar Peterson was a show-stopping virtuoso in the Art Tatum mode, and apparently the Canadian jazz pianist was always both inspired and intimidated by Tatum, although the two later became friends.
- Bill Evans. Evans took the influence of beboppers like Powell and added the flavour of impressionist classical harmony and a more overtly introspective sensibility.
6 days ago · This list features the greatest jazz pianists of all time, ranked as the absolute best by music lovers. Vote up the best jazz piano players below and see where the pianists you think are the greatest rank!
Jun 30, 2023 · In this article, we will explore the top 30 best jazz pianists of all time, and delve into their lives and music, to gain an understanding of the genre. From ragtime to swing to bebop to avant-garde and beyond, the piano has been at the forefront of jazz music’s development.
- Art Tatum
- Mary Lou Williams
- Chick Corea
- Duke Ellington
- Thelonious Monk
- Kenny Kirkland
- Barry Harris
- Teddy Wilson
- Kris Davis
- Willie “The Lion” Smith
Art Tatum was known for his extraordinary technical playing ability, made even more remarkable by the fact that he was almost totally blind. He was instrumental in the development of modern jazz and rhythm and blues, as well as the stride style. He is widely considered to be one of the best and most influential jazz pianists of all time, laying the...
Mary Lou Williams was a pianist and composer who was entirely self-taught. She was already famous as a teenager and considered a child prodigy. She is one of the biggest influencers of early jazz. Unlike many other musicians, she was able to roll with changing genres, turning to bebop as it became popular. Later in her life, she mentored other pian...
Armando “Chick” Corea was a child prodigy, learning to play the piano when he was only four years old. His career began when he took Herbie Hancock’s place, performing alongside Miles Davis. He was known for incorporating elements of Latin music into whatever genre he was playing; he transitioned seamlessly from jazz to jazz-rock, which rose to pop...
Duke Ellington was undoubtedly one of the most famous and influential pianists, composers, and bandleaders of the jazz, swing, and big band era. He is best known for his work as a conductor and composer, but he was also a pianist of extraordinary talent. He composed more than one thousand pieces during his lifetime, many of which are now considered...
Thelonious Monk was known not just for his extraordinary talent, but also for his larger-than-life playing style. After studying under Mary Lou Williams, he rose to prominence as a master of improvisation along with the bebop genre of the 1940s. His work as a composer resulted in several modern jazz standards. Meanwhile, his playing style, which in...
Kenny Kirkland became widely popular after accompanying Wynton and Branford Marsalis on several of their albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In addition to his solo albums, he is a talented accompanist who played alongside Dizzy Gillespie and Sting. He was known for his ability to improvise and adapt as he played. Sadly, he passed away in 1998 a...
Barry Harris was inspired by his pianist mother to start learning to play the same instrument at the age of four. He was inspired by jazz pianists such as Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, who influenced his rise into the music industry. He got his career started by gigging with musicians such as Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley. He made a seamles...
Teddy Wilson became known among jazz musicians for his work as an accompanist to some of the biggest singers of the genre. Among them were Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Benny Goodman. Most notably, he accompanied Billie Holiday for many years and is still most strongly associated with her. However, he also recorded several solo tracks and i...
Kris Davis is a modern jazz pianist considered one of the best of the 21st century. In 2020, she was named composer of the year and pianist of the yearby the Jazz Journalist Association. She is known for her ability to draw inspiration from musicians across genres, not just jazz but other types of music as well. Her compositions are also remarkable...
Willie “The Lion Smith” became well-known during the 1920s for his piano work on the emerging jazz and blues scenes. He often accompanied blues singers, gaining recognition for his use of the stride style. He had a unique, energetic playing technique and dazzling technical skill. His work would go on to influence giants of jazz such as George Gersh...
Best jazz pianists: our jazz expert Geoffrey Smith digs deep and selects the 28 greatest jazz pianists of all time.
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Mar 31, 2023 · There have been countless amazing jazz pianists over the 100 years or so of jazz history, and we couldn’t list them all. However, in this post, we’re going to take a small look at 28 of the greatest and most famous jazz piano players since the genre’s inception.
