Favourite Piano Players....

Simple enough idea for this. I will start with two easy ones in the 'recent years' category. No doubt names like Fats Waller, etc, that I would heartily agree with will follow here.

Anthony Burger - He was an incredibly gifted man who played for Bill Gaither on quite a few of his "Homecoming" videos. Had a very impressive list of accomplishments in his life.
He died on one of the Gaither Cruises of a heart attack at the far too young age of 44.

Victor Borge - Best known by most for his comic routines of course. I love watching his videos.
Died at 91 back in 2000 after many years of entertaining.
to paraphrase one of his staples: "What is the difference between the viola and violin? The viola burns longer!"

 

Anthony's Last Christmas Homecoming Performance

 

Thelonious Monk (duh...) - it only takes Monk about 2 or 3 notes before you know it is HIM!

 

Yes Monk is a no-brainer on any list like this. He must have been too obvious for me to list him. But I was watching a video featuring Anthony Burger when I decided to post this thread so he was more prominent in my head that very moment.
If I had Doc Brown's Delorian in my hands seeing Monk perform live would be very high on my list of things to do - right after seeing Benny Goodman.

going with another legend and one of my favourite singers off all time - Nat "King" Cole
And in that time travel scenario I would still see Monk first before Nat.

 

There are many piano players I enjoy very much but after thinking for a minute I remembered how much I love Bill Evans

 

Have to add Art Tatum. Fats Waller stepping aside to give you the piano bench when you walk in the room is truly a compliment.

 

Duke Ellington is first on my list. I also love me some Basie.

 

well, there's monk and there's ellington of course.

and there's andrew hill



and there's george rusell



though this particular track i particularly love for the arrangement and, especially, sheila jordan's singing.

and cecil taylor.



who is..um...stunning.

 

Ray Charles?

 

Ooooh I can't believe I neglected to say Cy Coleman

 

Scott Joplin, whichever guy in Emerson, Lake & Palmer is the piano player (Brain Salad Surgery).

 

There are some greats here. One of my recent favorites is Vika Yermolyeva, she's amazing.

 

I would second Ray Charles only because its the only person that comes to mind, but I'm just getting into classical music as is, some of these pianist are amazing...

 

Art Tatum. Unequaled to this day.


--- merged: Jan 13, 2012 7:30 PM ---
...and Hiromi. Holy shit.

 

ELTON JOHN! I dare you to find anyone who can work the pedals in a pair of platforms better than he.

 

Michael Pinder, orginal keyboardist for the Moody Blues. Known primarily for the Mellotron, I really liked his piano playing.

 

Rick Wakeman was always a favorite of mine