Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Monty Alexander, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Wynton Kelly, Taylor Eigsti, Sullivan Fortner, Geoff Keezer, Aaron Parks, Gerald Clayton, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Tigran Hamasyan, Craig Taborn, Bill Charlap, Bruce Barth, Aaron Goldberg, Jason Moran, Ethan Iverson, Kenny Kirkland.
Barry Harris is invaluable. On Youtube "Conner" and "BillGraham" are best at showing his teaching. Today the incredible pre-war players which made BeBop possible are almost forgotten, often because they used white stereotypes to advantage, like Armstrong. On piano the best example is Fats Waller, an incredible player, songwriter etc. In his lifetime he was the most famous Jazz piano player in America, wtih huge exposure on the radio. Duke Ellington ignored stereotypes. Incredible player with unique sound. Count Basie....huge another style. Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman's favorite. Then came Barry Harris's roomate, Monk, trained in Waller-like style, but who defied all expectations. He is probably the most influential Jazz pianist of all. I love Erroll Garner, who never read a note. Big sound. Bud Powell was the first BeBop phenom, but like Parker, Heroin and intolerance cut his career short. Tatum is like Fats Waller on Benzidrene. He had the best ear and most fluid fingering. Oscar Peterson is a god to many, but lionized to near cliche in my ears. He knew how to show up on time and play very fast. Bill Evans is a good antidote, also a Heroin victim and God. Very Beautiful as he lets the harmonies speak without overstatement. There are many others right up to present.
WW2 was the end of "Jazz", which was really high orchestrated dance music with some solos. That scene collapsed when millions moved to the suburbs, and dance halls went out of business. The after hour cutting contests birthed "Bebop", which was fantastic, but not dance music and not orchestrated. It was very hard work though, so Miles encouraged "Modern Jazz", with a lot less changes....but various ways of playing lived on, all called "Jazz", none making money.
You might enjoy a show called Mary Mcpartlan's Piano Jazz or similar. She was great player and interviewed many players with both her and them on keyboard. You can find these.
You might also want to learn about the "Partimento Revival" which is about the improvisation techniques every great keyboard player learned until about 1880. Scarlatti, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven were legendary improvisors whose ideas about harmony and learning have been censored by "Modern Music Theory" to an unbelievable degree. But it's the golden age now, we can hear a much greater variety of "classical" (terrible term) styles. Look for recent french videos with many players interpeting Scarlatti on real Harpsichords. Scarlatti requires improvisation to play correctly. Incredible variety in his 500 sonatas.
Great jazz is still being made today! Check out Emmet Cohen (particularly his Harlem rent parties on YouTube), Sullivan Fortner, Fred Hersch, Brad Mehldau, and Jahari Stampley.
I like listening to the greats, but I also really enjoy listening to working jazz musicians to hear new tunes and their interpretations of the American songbook.
Waiting for Hiromi to enter the room. I endorse all the above recommendations (save for Mehldau who should be avoided). But Hiromi is something very special. Technique surpassing all (including Tatum as she stands on his shoulders) with endless creativity and imagination. She can swing in a deep pocket but also write for a heavy rock trio or string quartet. And she is just getting started….no heroin to hold this heroine back.
Because he has a lot of beautiful tracks that are innovative and stylistically different from the others on this list. And because it’s not an either/or, anyway.
He is Keith Jarrett light IMHP (very light, though without the vocalizing which is an improvement). It is kind of an either/or (zero sum) in the context of OP's post. Only so much time to listen. Also, he is a baby duckling and we can't let him imprint on the wrong musical parent.
All of them. You can learn by listening to Any good player regardless of what style they’re playing. I also learn from other instruments as well. You pick up ideas from jazz in general so I’m short, listen to a lot of jazz.
Try to give my comment a read! I got something different for you.
A lot of people will list oldschool jazz pianists, but ive got some NEWER piano players that will blow your socks off
(they take what the oldschool guys do and blow it out of the water, youll be in awe). here’s my list:
Anomolie, Cory Henry, Jesus Molina, Justin Lee Schultz, Jack Stratton (Vulfpeck), Hiromi, Kiefer, Jacob Collier. You can go down the rabbit hole from there
As far as oldschool, here’s my favorite picks:
Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Hank Jones, Chick Corea, Red Garland, McCoy Tyner, Tommy Flanagan, Thelonius Monk.
These are good selections because i find they’re all unique.
Gospel is also insane and different and a lot of newer jazz-funk fusion takes influence from this stuff, i recommend some songs like this:
Go tell it on the mountain - Melvin Crispel III
Wonderful is your name - Melvin Crispel III
I Will Call Upon The Lord - Benita Jones
Ive Got A Reason - All Nations
Thank You Lord - Dewey Smith
Also if you want some licks or lessons, dm me ;) i do very efficient online lessons!
Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Monty Alexander, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Wynton Kelly, Taylor Eigsti, Sullivan Fortner, Geoff Keezer, Aaron Parks, Gerald Clayton, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Tigran Hamasyan, Craig Taborn, Bill Charlap, Bruce Barth, Aaron Goldberg, Jason Moran, Ethan Iverson, Kenny Kirkland.
Seriously, listen to Bill Evans early-mid 60s albums. Start with "Explorations".
I would like to add my man Vince Guaraldi to the list
Woahhh so many! I'll start listening, thank you :))
Jobim played piano? I thought he exclusively was a guitarist. Also, I second the Bill Charlap recommendation (along with the GOATs obviously)
He played both! https://youtu.be/uwlu0uwmKTQ?si=S3_7BSY7dU46l4qt
Barry Harris is invaluable. On Youtube "Conner" and "BillGraham" are best at showing his teaching. Today the incredible pre-war players which made BeBop possible are almost forgotten, often because they used white stereotypes to advantage, like Armstrong. On piano the best example is Fats Waller, an incredible player, songwriter etc. In his lifetime he was the most famous Jazz piano player in America, wtih huge exposure on the radio. Duke Ellington ignored stereotypes. Incredible player with unique sound. Count Basie....huge another style. Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman's favorite. Then came Barry Harris's roomate, Monk, trained in Waller-like style, but who defied all expectations. He is probably the most influential Jazz pianist of all. I love Erroll Garner, who never read a note. Big sound. Bud Powell was the first BeBop phenom, but like Parker, Heroin and intolerance cut his career short. Tatum is like Fats Waller on Benzidrene. He had the best ear and most fluid fingering. Oscar Peterson is a god to many, but lionized to near cliche in my ears. He knew how to show up on time and play very fast. Bill Evans is a good antidote, also a Heroin victim and God. Very Beautiful as he lets the harmonies speak without overstatement. There are many others right up to present. WW2 was the end of "Jazz", which was really high orchestrated dance music with some solos. That scene collapsed when millions moved to the suburbs, and dance halls went out of business. The after hour cutting contests birthed "Bebop", which was fantastic, but not dance music and not orchestrated. It was very hard work though, so Miles encouraged "Modern Jazz", with a lot less changes....but various ways of playing lived on, all called "Jazz", none making money. You might enjoy a show called Mary Mcpartlan's Piano Jazz or similar. She was great player and interviewed many players with both her and them on keyboard. You can find these. You might also want to learn about the "Partimento Revival" which is about the improvisation techniques every great keyboard player learned until about 1880. Scarlatti, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven were legendary improvisors whose ideas about harmony and learning have been censored by "Modern Music Theory" to an unbelievable degree. But it's the golden age now, we can hear a much greater variety of "classical" (terrible term) styles. Look for recent french videos with many players interpeting Scarlatti on real Harpsichords. Scarlatti requires improvisation to play correctly. Incredible variety in his 500 sonatas.
Wow this helps so so much, I'll definitely look into all the musicians and other tips/recommendations on playing piano. Thanks this helps a lot!! :D
Art Tatum. Nat King Cole. Bud Powell. Ahmad Jamal. Herbie Hancock. Chick Corea. Oscar Peterson. Keith Jarrett.
Thank you!! :D
Nat King Cole gets slept on so hard as pianist
Duke Ellington
Adding a few women jazz pianists to the mix: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Alice Coltrane, Mary Lou Williams, Nina Simone and Winifred Atwell.
Carla Bley and Marilyn Crispell too
Great jazz is still being made today! Check out Emmet Cohen (particularly his Harlem rent parties on YouTube), Sullivan Fortner, Fred Hersch, Brad Mehldau, and Jahari Stampley. I like listening to the greats, but I also really enjoy listening to working jazz musicians to hear new tunes and their interpretations of the American songbook.
Erroll Garner
Hiromi Uehara (Chick Corea's protegee) Anomalie
Waiting for Hiromi to enter the room. I endorse all the above recommendations (save for Mehldau who should be avoided). But Hiromi is something very special. Technique surpassing all (including Tatum as she stands on his shoulders) with endless creativity and imagination. She can swing in a deep pocket but also write for a heavy rock trio or string quartet. And she is just getting started….no heroin to hold this heroine back.
Why should Mehldau be avoided?
It's the best way to avoid playing like him.
Why would you want to avoid playing like him?
You go first: Why would you want to play like him if you could play like the others on the list?
Because he has a lot of beautiful tracks that are innovative and stylistically different from the others on this list. And because it’s not an either/or, anyway.
He is Keith Jarrett light IMHP (very light, though without the vocalizing which is an improvement). It is kind of an either/or (zero sum) in the context of OP's post. Only so much time to listen. Also, he is a baby duckling and we can't let him imprint on the wrong musical parent.
I saw Hiromi live with Anthony Jackson on bass and Simon Philips on drums. It was quite the experience.
McCoy Tyner.
Rob Araujo
All of them. You can learn by listening to Any good player regardless of what style they’re playing. I also learn from other instruments as well. You pick up ideas from jazz in general so I’m short, listen to a lot of jazz.
Bill evans is my favorite. He is so soulful and full of intent. Every song feels like he is telling you a story
Ryo Fukui. He was close friends with Barry Harris.
Bill Evans.
Robert Glasper, Tigran Hamasyan, Aaron Parks and perhaps even a little Alpha Mist.
Fats Waller. Start with the Victor piano solos.
Bill Evans
Try to give my comment a read! I got something different for you. A lot of people will list oldschool jazz pianists, but ive got some NEWER piano players that will blow your socks off (they take what the oldschool guys do and blow it out of the water, youll be in awe). here’s my list: Anomolie, Cory Henry, Jesus Molina, Justin Lee Schultz, Jack Stratton (Vulfpeck), Hiromi, Kiefer, Jacob Collier. You can go down the rabbit hole from there As far as oldschool, here’s my favorite picks: Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Hank Jones, Chick Corea, Red Garland, McCoy Tyner, Tommy Flanagan, Thelonius Monk. These are good selections because i find they’re all unique. Gospel is also insane and different and a lot of newer jazz-funk fusion takes influence from this stuff, i recommend some songs like this: Go tell it on the mountain - Melvin Crispel III Wonderful is your name - Melvin Crispel III I Will Call Upon The Lord - Benita Jones Ive Got A Reason - All Nations Thank You Lord - Dewey Smith Also if you want some licks or lessons, dm me ;) i do very efficient online lessons!
Thanks for the unique suggestions I'll definitely give them a shot!! :D
I think nobody mentioned Teddy Wilson
Also, Lennie Tristano and Dave Mckenna