Its a weird list I think 10. Is the “number one” guy because it’s listed backwards but I could be wrong… either way unconventional for a top 10 list… it also would be nice if they had played a snippet of music from each guy so you can see their styles lined up next to each other for comparison
Bill is beautiful but I don't think his stuff is a real jazz style. Its more beautiful and avant garde. I would love it if you checked out my preludes on my channel if your into that kinda thing
@@ALF8892 Avant Garde? He NEVER played in that dissonant style that came out of the late 60s into the 70s. bizarro stuff that just sounds like random notes. Was always tonal
1 errol garner 2 errol garner 3 errol garner 4 Oscar peterson 5 errol garner 6 Bill evans 7 nobody 8 errol garner 9 Brad melhdau 10 Lalo schiffrin for his solo on chega de saudade with dizzie live
Oscar Peterson is ONLY a virtuoso! He has no style! Brubeck, really??? Ahmad Jamal, really??? Monk, genius! Lennie Tristano: Genius! Bud Powell!!! George Wallington, a great bebop pianist! Eddie Costa, brilliant! Man, you don't know your business!
@@GeoCoppens haha. These are just the guys who’s music make me feel the most emotion. I’m not going by skill or how much their esteemed by jazz fans and their peers. Some guys I hear are the best and when I listen to their music it does nothing for me.
Count Basie, a unique voice, distinct, understated, who seems to be another member of a great band until it´s clear his thread the is the silk ribbon that ties their individual genius to become one.
Nice to see so many people enjoyed Jazz. Each player listed had style. What makes the difference is knowing how to play a ballad. And, in that vein, Bill Evans was supreme. He was the Rubenstein of jazz.
And I would add to the title of this video: THE NUMBERS AND MUSICALITY OF NEXT GENERATION OF THIS JAZZ PIANISTS ARE GROWING. Just keep playing, and thank you for that.👏
I am very fond of a number of the chosen 10. Not sure if Errol Garner should not have been in and I have a soft spot for Chic Corea as he was so innovative. But really the best piano player I have ever heard, indeed the greatest virtuoso on any instrument I have ever heard is the incredible Art Tatum.
Beyond the rankings (hard to see Bill Evans after Jarret, to whom he owed so much, and Corea) Earl Hines must be, without any discussion, in the top ten. His fundamental contribution to the jazz piano is indisputable.
I agree. Jarrett is above many great jazz pianists because he is a better solo pianist. In my view, only Art Tatum was able to keep an audience captivated by his technical ability....Jarrett piano solo performances are historical events. Great jazz pianists offered few 2-3 hours great solo concerts. Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris were also amazing in their solo performances...
I agree. Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Earl "Father" Hines, Teddy Wilson, Errol Gardner etc.,are great pianists...It's not easy to select them among them...
@@ericjazzfan9500 Just put in Fats around #2. Ahead of the genius Peterson, anyway. And James P Johnson? Nóubliez pas Willie The Lion.When did you last listen to Carolina Shout?
Friend of mine worked at Keystone Corner in SanFran and got to see/hear Bill Evans' entire last engagement just before he (Evans) died. My friend said that Evans was clearly dying and he played like he knew it, that this was his last opportunity to release all that music.
Tatum, Monk, Powell, Evans, Tyner. These are the major artists who created and evolved the jazz piano art form; most of the other players are their 'students'. Many notable others but this is the main list.
Monk is my favorite followed by Tatum. I recently had an article on Monk's albums published on the Tracking Angle site. WOW just saw you got these two on top too. But don't like to say "best" I prefer "favorite"
I love everybody you've listed and especially approve of Art Tatum heading the list. With no thought to who might be omitted from your list, I would include or consider Fats Waller, Earl Hines, Cecil Taylor, Errol Garner, and oh my goodness, Sun Ra by all means. And there must be glaring omissions we've both overlooked. Count Basie surely who like Ellington is even greater as band leader. Even if the list were expanded to 40, some fine pianists would have to be left out. But these lists are fun and necessarily personal. Thank you for yours. I can't stop. . . Phineas Newborn.
You sir, will not get one single bit of resistance or disagreement from me with this list!!! I'm so happy Bill Evans made the 10 ten as I was rooting for him. But I whole-heartedly agree with this list.
Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Thelonius Monk and Oscar Peterson in any order are the top four jazz pianists. Bill Evans recordings starting with "Explorations in Jazz" moved jazz so much forward that no one since has played as well as he did. Each one of his trios made history by themselves, but the one with Scott Lafaro was the best. We can disagree about the remaining six or more if you want to make the list longer, but those four were tops.
Please! Bill isnt even up to par with Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly ,Earl Hines or two dozen other influencial pianists..He will always be you.all ,s great white hope!
@@warrendoris9669 When you say that it means you don't know your business. Are you a racist or something...? Listen to Bill Evans in 1957 on albums with Lee Konitz at the Half Note and with vibraphonist/pianist Eddie Costa on his album Guys and Dolls like Vibes!!!
What a list is this..? 1 Art Tatum, 2 Errol Garner, 3 Oscar Peterson, 4 Earl Hines, 5 Bill Evans, 6 Fats Waller 7 Dave Brubeck 8 Teddy Wilson 9 Jelly Roll Morton 10 Tommy Flanagan
The funny thing about lists is that you can have wonderful fights with other guys who share the same interest / love for something. "What? Jarrett only on 8? Are you crazy? He's got to be on 1!" - "No, 1 is definitely for Bill Evans. Jarrett could be on 3, maybe..." - "You absolutely don't know ANYTHING about music. Jarrett on 1, Evans on 2 - period!" etc. etc. BTW, I'm missing Dave McKenna here - not only on the list, but in all the comments. He never got the respect he earned... 😌
I think you guys are missing the point of the video 🥲 we all have our own taste when it comes to the piano but to compile this as a video and give each player a moniker with a non verbose bio and a cool background music is simply beautiful 😄✌️🎧🤍🎹
Great list. Count Basie, Sun Ra, and Johnny Costa should get mentions as well. Not many people know who Costa was, but almost everyone in America of a certain age has heard his music at some point.
He was the piano player on Mr Rogers. An incredible musician. And because of the popularity of the show and its music, there aren't too many jazz musicians whose music reached a wider audience.
@@HP_____ Costa played at the level of Tatum, and can be heard by watching any Mr. Rogers shows. And it's all live. End credits on those shows is where Costa blows you away. A giant. They missed Nat Cole.
While this is a good list the whole idea of the top 10 jazz pianists is ridiculous and shows a lack of understanding about what art is. There is no "best" or top 10 there is only different. To leave Earl Hines and Teddy Wilson out for instance is totally ignorant. Also Erroll Garner and Nat Cole. Wynton Kelly, Barry Harris, Cedar Walton, Red Garland, Tommy Flanagan, Phineas Newborn, Mary Lou Williams and so many others. Still if this list causes someone to check out these 10 pianists they'd be off to a great start.
It’s also strange to not play clips of the different players, so you could understand the difference in style each one brought. As presented, I may as well be reading this list in a magazine.
Effectivement de très grands pianistes dans ce classement mais qui, bien évidemment, ne peut pas être exhaustif. A mon avis il manque quatre autres très grands musiciens. Earl Hines un peu oublié aujourd'hui mais qui a su tout au long de sa carrière évoluer avec le jazz. Count Basie est sans doute plus connu pour son big band et pourtant en trio ou avec son orchestre il a une science phénoménale pour jouer la bonne note au bon endroit. Économe effectivement dans son jeu, pas d'esbrouffe technique mais l'écouter sur une longue intro d'un blues est un pur régal. Le troisième que je citerai est Errol Garner. En effet il a su inventer un style extrêmement personnel avec cette main gauche puissante et rythmique reconnaissable immédiatement. Dès que l'on entend deux notes d'Errol Garner, le swing apparaît. Enfin je rajouterai à cette liste Horace Silver. En plus d'être un leader et un grand compositeur, son style, économe lui aussi est reconnaissable immédiatement. Que d'émotions souvent dans ses solos. Voilà les quatre autres pianistes que je rajouterai dans cette excellente liste.
@@TehWinnerz Whilst I am too dissapointed that Errol Gardner wasn't included, I still don't see the point in making this about race when everyone on this list are respectable musicians..
Baker's dozen in chronological order: Earl Hines Art Tatum Thelonious Monk Lennie Tristano John Lewis Bud Powell Cecil Taylor Tommy Flanagan Eddie Costa Alexander Von Schlippenbach Jessica Williams Marilyn Crispell Matthew Shipp
Click on Nat King Cole Trio Little Girl on youtube. Oh, my. And his sub guitarist kills it. Read the comments too. Nat was amazing. I play guitar, and a holy grail would be to play that guitar solo.
Pepper Williams is right No -James P Johnson No -Willy the lion Smith I realize you Chose to only pick 10 A tough task to set for yourself Considering they’re all amazing and have contributed greatly to The jazz idiom .. Maybe make another list of 10 And then another one after that I did enjoy this. Thank you
So many good pianists in jazz, in fact I would argue that there more exponents on that instrument than any other,, which is good if the piano happens to be your favourite instrument and in my case it is! Producing any form of list that attempts to define the important ones, or even your own favourites is therefore not easy, so I am not going to take issue with those selected here, except to say that to leave out Earl Hines, given the influence he had on others as well as his own ability of course, was a gross omission!
For me Michel Camilo would be in the top as well,although he is not clearly jazz,he has been influenced by Latin a lot i think he should be included as an honorable mention at least
I have never understood all the adulation accorded Oscar Peterson, admittedly great technically, but the one pianist on this list who never moved me. Once you have his idol Art Tatum as number one, no need for O.P. Glad to see Chick Corea on this list, his trio recordings over many years are superb.
Reversed roles in my opinion, Tatum is obviously a historical virtuoso of technique but his improvisation becomes jarring and repetitive, Peterson brings virtuosity to complex changes that nonetheless remain accessible even while they occasionally leave the rest of his trios and ´tets smiling silently in appreciative disbelief as they become on stage audience members.
Go listen to Peterson's Hymn to Freedom on his album Night Train. How can you NOT be moved? And his Sheik of Araby when he was just 19? Who else can do what he did to You are my Sunshine at Jazz at the Santa Monica? Oscar is the Liszt and Chopin of Piano Jazz, rolled into one.
You people who read the comments have little jazz knowlegde! No one mentions the great pianist Dodo Marmarosa! He played with Charlie Parker and Wardell Gray!
There are so many great pianists, it’s hard to make a list like this. Michael Petrucciani, Teddy Wilson, Barry Harris, Errol Garner, Earl Hines, Dave Brubeck are names that come quickly to mind. Duke Ellington was a tremendous musician, but not as good a pianist as any of the others on the list. Bill Evans was too low. I’d have put Oscar Peterson #2. To not leave out women, Marlyn McPartland. Man, there’s so many.
@AMT My favorite Count Basie record is E = mc2, Count Basie with Neal Hefty arrangements on the Roullette label. It is a barn burner from the best big band ever devised by man.
the bottom line is ...we can not compare the greatness of these masters. however, if we talk about the pure pianistic point of view, I have to put Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett to the top.
The expression "pure pianistic point of view" doesn't mean classical....in my view. We're talking here about GREAT JAZZ PIANISTS, NOT ABOUT SOME JAZZ PIANISTS WITH CLASSICAL BACKGROUNDS....GREAT BEBOP PIANISTS DON'T HAVE TO SOUND LIKE CLASSICAL PIANISTS....THAT'S WHY THERE ARE CALLED BEBOP PIANISTS- AUTHENTIC JAZZ MUSICIANS.
@@ericjazzfan9500 I have no intention to highlight classical influence which is just one of many. I mean pure pianism includes everything about this instrument; technique, tone, dynamic, touch, harmonical complexity, stylistic variety, how experimental, how original, and so on. bebop is just one factor, one style of jazz. do u think bill and keith are bad at bebop? bebop is jazz, but jazz is not just bebop.. !
@@jayk1049 'From a pure pianistic point of view' just doesn't mean anything. The definition in your second comment are just MUSICAL concepts. Especially funny that you're using that empty sentence to justify naming two people just after saying the greatness of these masters can't be compared.
@@NIPPYxMIMI fist of all, it's my opinion as a fan and as a jazz pianist. I have played this instrument all my life, so i maybe have a different perspective. you can have different views and preference, i can't argue that. but you r so rude and arrogant to say "it doesn't mean anything". why you r attacking someone who has different opinion? are u trying to teach me? lol of course it's musical concept. we r talking about music and piano here. you seem not understand the difference as a jazz master and a pianist. but it's ok. it's your opinion.
I was listening to an interview of a young pianist who took lessons from Oscar Peterson. He walked into a room with two pianos, Oscar at one, him at the other and they played twelve hours daily.
There are two categories: the great pianists as virtuosos and the great creative pianists. Virtuous jazz pianists are always creative when improvising but not everyone has created original pieces and compositions. Creative pianists are always superior to virtuoso pianists. Monk is superior in the history of Jazz to Art Tatum. Monk was an innovator, composed songs that became standard and was "deciphered" after many decades. Tatum used a lot of embellishments, recorded memorable sessions but didn't create his own songs. Monk is a well of inspiration. Oscar Peterson composed something original but not as original as Monk. Peterson, however, remains technically and creatively among the first ever in the history of jazz pianism. Powell is another creator who, however, has bequeathed a new approach and not too many original songs. Perhaps Herbie Hancock at number 4 is excessive but certainly he was and is at the top of the technique but he also composed a lot, albeit with not always exceptional results. Bill Evans was another pianist with solid classical foundations and a very refined harmonizer but the original pieces he composed are few. Hank Jones was also a composer and refined pianist but not a genius on the level of Monk. Keith Jarrett is a joker all-rounder and the most complete. In jazz he has shown that he can excel and compete technically with virtuosos but his true genius is that of free composition. When he records classical things, classical music lovers do not consider him at all. He is extraordinary as a creator and as a pianist but he has never repeated the creative level of "The Koln Concert". No subsequent live-solo has ever reached those heights, indeed over time it has often repeated itself and has lost originality. McCoy Tyner still inspires jazz pianists like Jarrett, in fact, a plethora of pianists today copy the style of these two greats. He has created something, but not memorable compositions albums. He was great with Coltrane. Jamal was a great performer, original improviser but he did not create albums of original songs. Korea certainly an eclectic, skilled and very creative pianist. Other excellent pianists are missing, already mentioned in the comments. Fats Waller, Red Garland, Errol Gardner ... But ten places aren't enough, it's just a game.
I completely agree, the background piece to this video, Ruby My Dear, by Monk, played beautifully by Hank Jones, but not written 'by' Hank Jones, is just one of Monk's many ballads that swing so sweetly on the piano. The piece goes through me every time I sit at the piano, creating then releasing tension in the music, and releasing my tension for the rest of the day.
missing are Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, James P. Johnson and Cecil Taylor. Make it the top 15 and and add these 4. Maybe, off the top of my head, add Horace Silver and you have 15.
This list is as good as any, but I'm with you. I'd expand the list or drop a modern player or 2 to inclde, Earl Hines, Jelly Roll or Fats Waller. Tough choices, love them all.
I fully realize the futility of rating "best"...no such animal. Can you imagine how boring or bad music would be if your "best" pianist played every song on every record and that's it? I'm a career player, retired from 47 years on the road...my sole career....never had a day job. My name is of no consequence ..I played stints with Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, and a few others that still live so I won't "name drop" any further. Although my instrument is a guitar, I listen to pianist probably 10 to 1 over guitarists. I've heard 6 out of these 10 pianists live...a few many times. McCoy Tyner stood head and shoulders as the most overwhelming experience I've come face to face with that relates to music of any kind. His musical presence...his ability to conjure up and engage the organic, spirit of music itself defied words for proper explanation. Once we'd seen him in New Orleans in the 70's on a night that he broke some type of barrier of human emotion and passion I've not witnessed since, but at the peak of one of his solos, whatever it is that humans have sought from music since recorded history literally overtook the room... ..and at once, in unison, over a hundred people broke down and wept...grown men and women, there was no prompt from others, it happened as a crescendo and it looked like some force knocked, or almost crushed the wind from everyone at once, then shuddered and wept... Something I've not seen in over 6000 one-nighters or even heard of again. Two women who came with that evening us didn't even care for jazz, continued to weep as we left and drove home. Music can be a powerful force but very rare that it reaches like that. Even so, it seems to me Monk has been more important in the big picture of music. Monk is also evidence that as important as theory can be, music, itself.. exists totally separate and apart from it. ....not a chicken or the egg question... ..music had been out there a near eternity before anyone decided to try to quantify and notate.. And Jarrett, Tatum, and Chick, all greats but I can't imagine of the importance of a Bill Evans. Evans is the Dead Sea Scrolls, Merriam-Webster's, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Shroud of Turin of modern jazz piano.
Bill Evans 10' ??? IMPOSSIBLE!!!
Its a weird list I think 10. Is the “number one” guy because it’s listed backwards but I could be wrong… either way unconventional for a top 10 list… it also would be nice if they had played a snippet of music from each guy so you can see their styles lined up next to each other for comparison
Bill is beautiful but I don't think his stuff is a real jazz style. Its more beautiful and avant garde. I would love it if you checked out my preludes on my channel if your into that kinda thing
Jarrett, Tatum, Evans... 123
@@ALF8892 Avant Garde? He NEVER played in that dissonant style that came out of the late 60s into the 70s. bizarro stuff that just sounds like random notes. Was always tonal
1 errol garner
2 errol garner
3 errol garner
4 Oscar peterson
5 errol garner
6 Bill evans
7 nobody
8 errol garner
9 Brad melhdau
10 Lalo schiffrin for his solo on chega de saudade with dizzie live
Yes, we all like Errol Garner
Hahahahah tbh I agree fully
1. Bill evans
2. Ahmad Jamal
3. Duke
4. Oscar peterson
5. Brubeck
6. Monk
Barry Harris about Bill Evans and jazz pianists: ruclips.net/video/s-4L9lgty5c/видео.html
@@ericjazzfan9500 ahh I forgot to mention Barry Harris. I’ve watched that video, he was a funny dude.
Oscar Peterson is ONLY a virtuoso! He has no style! Brubeck, really??? Ahmad Jamal, really??? Monk, genius! Lennie Tristano: Genius! Bud Powell!!! George Wallington, a great bebop pianist! Eddie Costa, brilliant!
Man, you don't know your business!
Interesting list. Thanks.
@@GeoCoppens haha. These are just the guys who’s music make me feel the most emotion. I’m not going by skill or how much their esteemed by jazz fans and their peers. Some guys I hear are the best and when I listen to their music it does nothing for me.
Dwike Mitchell,Wynton Kelly,Bobby Timmons,Sonny Clark,Elmo Hope,Red Garland,Horace Silver,Mulgrew Miller,Kenny Barron,David Hazeltine,George Cables "Mr.Beautiful" ....to mention few other giants 🎹
Interesting!
Erroll Garner... ERROLL GARNER... let me repeat that... E-R-R-O-L-L G-A-R-N-E-R !!!! @%* Holy schmoley... how cud yah ! ???
Yep!
Oooh you right!
Count Basie, a unique voice, distinct, understated, who seems to be another member of a great band until it´s clear his thread the is the silk ribbon that ties their individual genius to become one.
Interesting
I like to add two more here: Dave Brubeck and Michel Petrucciani.
Not a bad list, but I'd replace Herbie Hancock with Horace Silver in a heart beat!
Nice to see so many people enjoyed Jazz. Each player listed had style. What makes the difference is knowing how to play a ballad. And, in that vein, Bill Evans was supreme. He was the Rubenstein of jazz.
Good list but should’ve included each pianist’s work in the background to admire the different styles
Count Basie was one of the greatests too!
I agree.
I agree.
Yep!!!
Yes but sadly he stopped playing in 1937…
Agree
And I would add to the title of this video: THE NUMBERS AND MUSICALITY OF NEXT GENERATION OF THIS JAZZ PIANISTS ARE GROWING. Just keep playing, and thank you for that.👏
I agree!!!!
I'm not sure exactly where I'd slot Bill Evans, but he'd be in the top 5, maybe as high as 2 (after Tatum).
I am very fond of a number of the chosen 10. Not sure if Errol Garner should not have been in and I have a soft spot for Chic Corea as he was so innovative.
But really the best piano player I have ever heard, indeed the greatest virtuoso on any instrument I have ever heard is the incredible Art Tatum.
Absolutely fantastic compilation of facts and clips.
THANKS A LOT!!!
THANK YOU
Beyond the rankings (hard to see Bill Evans after Jarret, to whom he owed so much, and Corea) Earl Hines must be, without any discussion, in the top ten. His fundamental contribution to the jazz piano is indisputable.
I agree. Jarrett is above many great jazz pianists because he is a better solo pianist. In my view, only Art Tatum was able to keep an audience captivated by his technical ability....Jarrett piano solo performances are historical events. Great jazz pianists offered few 2-3 hours great solo concerts. Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris were also amazing in their solo performances...
Man, you missed so many: Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Earl "Father" Hines, Teddy Wilson, Errol Gardner etc.,
I agree. Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Earl "Father" Hines, Teddy Wilson, Errol Gardner etc.,are great pianists...It's not easy to select them among them...
@@ericjazzfan9500 Just put in Fats around #2. Ahead of the genius Peterson, anyway. And James P Johnson? Nóubliez pas Willie The Lion.When did you last listen to Carolina Shout?
Never heard of Errol Gardner-was he as good as say Errol Garner?
Friend of mine worked at Keystone Corner in SanFran and got to see/hear Bill Evans' entire last engagement just before he (Evans) died. My friend said that Evans was clearly dying and he played like he knew it, that this was his last opportunity to release all that music.
Thanks for sharing this memory!!
ruclips.net/video/ysqLo7tkd4o/видео.html
Honorable mention & shoutout! Josef Zawinul help nurture & lay the foundation for Jazz Fusion ......
Tatum, Monk, Powell, Evans, Tyner. These are the major artists who created and evolved the jazz piano art form; most of the other players are their 'students'. Many notable others but this is the main list.
The later Tyner was horrible to listen to. This I heard when he had Azar Lawrence in the quartet.
"The others"as you lump the, are NOT their students, but paved the way for them from 1918 to 1948.
Great list! You have all of my favorites, including a few who got in at the very end.
Thanks a lot!!
Monk is my favorite followed by Tatum. I recently had an article on Monk's albums published on the Tracking Angle site.
WOW just saw you got these two on top too. But don't like to say "best" I prefer "favorite"
Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Drew, Gonzalo Rubalcaba !! 🎹
I love everybody you've listed and especially approve of Art Tatum heading the list. With no thought to who might be omitted from your list, I would include or consider Fats Waller, Earl Hines, Cecil Taylor, Errol Garner, and oh my goodness, Sun Ra by all means. And there must be glaring omissions we've both overlooked. Count Basie surely who like Ellington is even greater as band leader. Even if the list were expanded to 40, some fine pianists would have to be left out. But these lists are fun and necessarily personal. Thank you for yours. I can't stop. . . Phineas Newborn.
Thank You
Nat Cole.
@@sclogse1 most certainly, yes!
Teddy Wilson. I don't rate very highly such a list without him.
Thanks for including Keith Jarrett
Of course. He is a great pianist!!!
I'd include Erroll Garner in this list
You sir, will not get one single bit of resistance or disagreement from me with this list!!! I'm so happy Bill Evans made the 10 ten as I was rooting for him. But I whole-heartedly agree with this list.
Bill Evans is not on the to 10 list, but he should have been.
Where is Erroll Garner?
I will always love Chick, he was always moving forward and very modern. Bill Evans wrote amazingbtunes, particularly in 3, great chords.
Yep!
Always loved Bills tail end too all his songs
Erroll Garner, Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans are universes ahead... an underrated one to pick up is Harold Mabern
Great list. I really enjoy Abdullah Ibrahim as well.
Oscar and Evans were my favorites.
Ditto!!!
Bill evans is without doubt the biggestvinfluence on any jazzpianist of today
Very nicely done. Thank you.
For me, there's Oscar then everyone else. Virtuoso master.
But Oscar has no style, just instrumental ability! Not interesting at ALLLLL!
@@GeoCoppens Как это нету стиля? Вы молодой человек походу вовсе неразбираетесь в фортепианном искусстве
@@jemtheweeknd97 Don't speak to me and the readers here In CHINESE!!!
@@GeoCoppens Видите, вы даже не можете продолжить со мной дискуссию, потому что не в теме, уважаемый гражданин😉
Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Thelonius Monk and Oscar Peterson in any order are the top four jazz pianists. Bill Evans recordings starting with "Explorations in Jazz" moved jazz so much forward that no one since has played as well as he did. Each one of his trios made history by themselves, but the one with Scott Lafaro was the best. We can disagree about the remaining six or more if you want to make the list longer, but those four were tops.
It's "Thelonious"! Oscar Peterson has no style, only virtuosity! Poor!
Please! Bill isnt even up to par with Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly ,Earl Hines or two dozen other influencial pianists..He will always be you.all ,s great white hope!
@@warrendoris9669 When you say that it means you don't know your business. Are you a racist or something...? Listen to Bill Evans in 1957 on albums with Lee Konitz at the Half Note and with vibraphonist/pianist Eddie Costa on his album Guys and Dolls like Vibes!!!
Once again you can't leave out Earl Garner or t a n n e r
@@walterdean5915 Rightly so! He is an entertainer!
I would put Bill Evans higher. The 3rd best for me.
1957 the greatest jazz year.
What a list is this..? 1 Art Tatum, 2 Errol Garner, 3 Oscar Peterson, 4 Earl Hines, 5 Bill Evans, 6 Fats Waller 7 Dave Brubeck 8 Teddy Wilson 9 Jelly Roll Morton 10 Tommy Flanagan
I listen to Teddy Wilson, Fats Waller, and Errol Garner the most.
I also like to hear Nat King Cole on that Trio stuff.
VERY INTERESTING LIST
Hear Teddy Wilson at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago in the mid 70's. Very special. Hear Keith Jarrett during that same time period. Amazing players.
Shirley Horn, George Duke, Joe Sample, Ramsey Lewis, Lonnie Liston Smith, Patrice Rushen, Rodney Franklin 🤔
Great List.
@@ericjazzfan9500 Ramsey Lewis is a true lightweight. Should not appear in any list!
@@GeoCoppens If you said so...
All very UNIMPORTANT! Popular shit!
@@GeoCoppens If You said SO😄
The funny thing about lists is that you can have wonderful fights with other guys who share the same interest / love for something. "What? Jarrett only on 8? Are you crazy? He's got to be on 1!" - "No, 1 is definitely for Bill Evans. Jarrett could be on 3, maybe..." - "You absolutely don't know ANYTHING about music. Jarrett on 1, Evans on 2 - period!" etc. etc. BTW, I'm missing Dave McKenna here - not only on the list, but in all the comments. He never got the respect he earned... 😌
😌
I think you guys are missing the point of the video 🥲 we all have our own taste when it comes to the piano but to compile this as a video and give each player a moniker with a non verbose bio and a cool background music is simply beautiful 😄✌️🎧🤍🎹
Great list. Count Basie, Sun Ra, and Johnny Costa should get mentions as well. Not many people know who Costa was, but almost everyone in America of a certain age has heard his music at some point.
Thank you
Don't know Johnny but the other Costa I love is Eddie Costa.
He was the piano player on Mr Rogers. An incredible musician. And because of the popularity of the show and its music, there aren't too many jazz musicians whose music reached a wider audience.
Costa!!!
@@HP_____ Costa played at the level of Tatum, and can be heard by watching any Mr. Rogers shows. And it's all live. End credits on those shows is where Costa blows you away. A giant. They missed Nat Cole.
Excellent. Thank you so much!!!
Evans and chick are my favs. I also love peterson and jamal
Bill Evans should be on top
Each one of them should be on top...
While this is a good list the whole idea of the top 10 jazz pianists is ridiculous and shows a lack of understanding about what art is. There is no "best" or top 10 there is only different. To leave Earl Hines and Teddy Wilson out for instance is totally ignorant. Also Erroll Garner and Nat Cole. Wynton Kelly, Barry Harris, Cedar Walton, Red Garland, Tommy Flanagan, Phineas Newborn, Mary Lou Williams and so many others. Still if this list causes someone to check out these 10 pianists they'd be off to a great start.
It’s also strange to not play clips of the different players, so you could understand the difference in style each one brought. As presented, I may as well be reading this list in a magazine.
So it the list useful, or ridiculous and showing a lack of understanding about what art is?
Good call Mike!
Effectivement de très grands pianistes dans ce classement mais qui, bien évidemment, ne peut pas être exhaustif.
A mon avis il manque quatre autres très grands musiciens. Earl Hines un peu oublié aujourd'hui mais qui a su tout au long de sa carrière évoluer avec le jazz. Count Basie est sans doute plus connu pour son big band et pourtant en trio ou avec son orchestre il a une science phénoménale pour jouer la bonne note au bon endroit. Économe effectivement dans son jeu, pas d'esbrouffe technique mais l'écouter sur une longue intro d'un blues est un pur régal. Le troisième que je citerai est Errol Garner. En effet il a su inventer un style extrêmement personnel avec cette main gauche puissante et rythmique reconnaissable immédiatement. Dès que l'on entend deux notes d'Errol Garner, le swing apparaît. Enfin je rajouterai à cette liste Horace Silver. En plus d'être un leader et un grand compositeur, son style, économe lui aussi est reconnaissable immédiatement. Que d'émotions souvent dans ses solos. Voilà les quatre autres pianistes que je rajouterai dans cette excellente liste.
nobody mentioned Tomy Flanagan. I'm a huge fan of his work with Wes Montgomery
Me too!
A guitar-player friend of my dad gave him Charlie Parker with Strings when i was born, 1950, and said, "Make sure he hears this before anything else."
Nice video, thx
thanks
THANKS
THANK YOU!
Really surprised Errol Gardner wasn’t included. Hmm. 🤔
but totally unsurprised that Bill fucking Evans was. Every white jazz fan's superhero. Not even in the top 100.
Terrible Oversight!!!!
@@TehWinnerz Whilst I am too dissapointed that Errol Gardner wasn't included, I still don't see the point in making this about race when everyone on this list are respectable musicians..
@@TehWinnerz Lmao. If he was black he would be regarded as the best of all time
@@fenderzo in your head perhaps
Earl fatha Hines and Errol Garner are definitely among the greatest
ERROLL GARNER
My top 3 are Monk, Peterson, and Taylor. Great list though.
🤣🤣🤣
Where are two of Charlie Parker's favorite pianists? Dodo Marmarosa and Al Haig. Both are brilliant!
Interesting question
Wot, no Erroll Garner?
Sorry. I know.
Ahh music... and all that Jazz.
Baker's dozen in chronological order:
Earl Hines
Art Tatum
Thelonious Monk
Lennie Tristano
John Lewis
Bud Powell
Cecil Taylor
Tommy Flanagan
Eddie Costa
Alexander Von Schlippenbach
Jessica Williams
Marilyn Crispell
Matthew Shipp
Great List! Great Number of Pianists.
Who are your next Dozen?
Glad to see Flanagan on someone's list!
1 - Bud Powell
Oscar is my favorite no list is complete without Nat Cole and Fats Waller.
Check it out Ray Charles & Clint Eastwood talking Pianist, Ray wanted to emulate Nat
Also Ray Charles and Keith Jarrett
Brad Melhdau
Click on Nat King Cole Trio Little Girl on youtube. Oh, my. And his sub guitarist kills it. Read the comments too. Nat was amazing. I play guitar, and a holy grail would be to play that guitar solo.
Pepper Williams is right
No -James P Johnson
No -Willy the lion Smith
I realize you Chose to only pick 10
A tough task to set for yourself
Considering they’re all amazing and have contributed greatly to The jazz idiom .. Maybe make another list of 10
And then another one after that
I did enjoy this. Thank you
Thanks. I will follow your advice
Seriously underrated: Andrew Hill
Нет слов! Да ещё с портретами лучших пианистов. Для себя я их называю философами
So many good pianists in jazz, in fact I would argue that there more exponents on that instrument than any other,, which is good if the piano happens to be your favourite instrument and in my case it is!
Producing any form of list that attempts to define the important ones, or even your own favourites is therefore not easy, so I am not going to take issue with those selected here, except to say that to leave out Earl Hines, given the influence he had on others as well as his own ability of course, was a gross omission!
For me Michel Camilo would be in the top as well,although he is not clearly jazz,he has been influenced by Latin a lot i think he should be included as an honorable mention at least
Interesting!
Falta Fats Walter, que debe estar entre los diez. Donde lo ponemos?
Johnny Costa seems to be always forgotten.
Not by me. End credits on Mr. Rogers was at times jaw dropping.
I have never understood all the adulation accorded Oscar Peterson, admittedly great technically, but the one pianist on this list who never moved me. Once you have his idol Art Tatum as number one, no need for O.P. Glad to see Chick Corea on this list, his trio recordings over many years are superb.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Reversed roles in my opinion, Tatum is obviously a historical virtuoso of technique but his improvisation becomes jarring and repetitive, Peterson brings virtuosity to complex changes that nonetheless remain accessible even while they occasionally leave the rest of his trios and ´tets smiling silently in appreciative disbelief as they become on stage audience members.
@@cowboybob7093 interesting.
Go listen to Peterson's Hymn to Freedom on his album Night Train. How can you NOT be moved? And his Sheik of Araby when he was just 19? Who else can do what he did to You are my Sunshine at Jazz at the Santa Monica? Oscar is the Liszt and Chopin of Piano Jazz, rolled into one.
Reading your comments: I’m reminded of that old duke Ellington quote in 1923 “there’s 2 kinds of music in the world….that you like & that you don’t”!
You people who read the comments have little jazz knowlegde! No one mentions the great pianist Dodo Marmarosa! He played with Charlie Parker and Wardell Gray!
Indeed great artists, wonderful video.
Thanks 👏🙌
Thanks
Well, that's one way of looking at jazz piano.
There are so many great pianists, it’s hard to make a list like this. Michael Petrucciani, Teddy Wilson, Barry Harris, Errol Garner, Earl Hines, Dave Brubeck are names that come quickly to mind. Duke Ellington was a tremendous musician, but not as good a pianist as any of the others on the list. Bill Evans was too low. I’d have put Oscar Peterson #2. To not leave out women, Marlyn McPartland. Man, there’s so many.
Yep! Thanks for your comment.
Ny list that omits Mary Lou Williams or Cleo Bown suggests a rather shallow study of the development of Piano Jazz
With all due respect... Michel Petrucciani belongs in the golden circle with Art Tatum & Oscar Peterson...He was that brilliant!
🤣🤣🤣
I also feel sore that the Chairman of the Board (Count Basie) is missing!
I agree.
@AMT My favorite Count Basie record is E = mc2, Count Basie with Neal Hefty arrangements on the Roullette label. It is a barn burner from the best big band ever devised by man.
Is that Tommy Flanagan playing on the soundtrack ?
Hank Jones
the bottom line is ...we can not compare the greatness of these masters. however, if we talk about the pure pianistic point of view, I have to put Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett to the top.
The expression "pure pianistic point of view" doesn't mean classical....in my view. We're talking here about GREAT JAZZ PIANISTS, NOT ABOUT SOME JAZZ PIANISTS WITH CLASSICAL BACKGROUNDS....GREAT BEBOP PIANISTS DON'T HAVE TO SOUND LIKE CLASSICAL PIANISTS....THAT'S WHY THERE ARE CALLED BEBOP PIANISTS- AUTHENTIC JAZZ MUSICIANS.
@@ericjazzfan9500 I have no intention to highlight classical influence which is just one of many. I mean pure pianism includes everything about this instrument; technique, tone, dynamic, touch, harmonical complexity, stylistic variety, how experimental, how original, and so on. bebop is just one factor, one style of jazz. do u think bill and keith are bad at bebop?
bebop is jazz, but jazz is not just bebop.. !
Interesting point. Of course, Bill and Keith are great jazz pianists.
@@jayk1049 'From a pure pianistic point of view' just doesn't mean anything. The definition in your second comment are just MUSICAL concepts. Especially funny that you're using that empty sentence to justify naming two people just after saying the greatness of these masters can't be compared.
@@NIPPYxMIMI fist of all, it's my opinion as a fan and as a jazz pianist. I have played this instrument all my life, so i maybe have a different perspective.
you can have different views and preference, i can't argue that. but you r so rude and arrogant to say "it doesn't mean anything". why you r attacking someone who has different opinion? are u trying to teach me? lol
of course it's musical concept. we r talking about music and piano here.
you seem not understand the difference as a jazz master and a pianist. but it's ok. it's your opinion.
Where is Earl Hines?
I know, right?
@@HP_____ Okay
Aloha great sounds 🌈
Nat King Cole?
Where is Barry Harris ?
What about the the two Michaels Michel Petrucciani & Michel Camilo
Great pianists of course.
They both suck!
Art Tatum & Bill Evans. At least Miles thought so. And so do I.
Where is Mary Lou Williams?
AND MICHEL PETRUCCIANI in top list !!!
Oscar Peterson was the greatest of them all. One you left off was Willie “ The Lion” Smith.
Thanks for your comment.
Where’s Erroll Garner?
He is a Great Jazz Pianist- I agree. Thanks for your comment.
I can't imagine how much practise it must have took for them.. to become greats..
I was listening to an interview of a young pianist who took lessons from Oscar Peterson. He walked into a room with two pianos, Oscar at one, him at the other and they played twelve hours daily.
There are two categories: the great pianists as virtuosos and the great creative pianists. Virtuous jazz pianists are always creative when improvising but not everyone has created original pieces and compositions.
Creative pianists are always superior to virtuoso pianists. Monk is superior in the history of Jazz to Art Tatum. Monk was an innovator, composed songs that became standard and was "deciphered" after many decades. Tatum used a lot of embellishments, recorded memorable sessions but didn't create his own songs. Monk is a well of inspiration. Oscar Peterson composed something original but not as original as Monk. Peterson, however, remains technically and creatively among the first ever in the history of jazz pianism. Powell is another creator who, however, has bequeathed a new approach and not too many original songs.
Perhaps Herbie Hancock at number 4 is excessive but certainly he was and is at the top of the technique but he also composed a lot, albeit with not always exceptional results.
Bill Evans was another pianist with solid classical foundations and a very refined harmonizer but the original pieces he composed are few. Hank Jones was also a composer and refined pianist but not a genius on the level of Monk.
Keith Jarrett is a joker all-rounder and the most complete. In jazz he has shown that he can excel and compete technically with virtuosos but his true genius is that of free composition. When he records classical things, classical music lovers do not consider him at all. He is extraordinary as a creator and as a pianist but he has never repeated the creative level of "The Koln Concert". No subsequent live-solo has ever reached those heights, indeed over time it has often repeated itself and has lost originality. McCoy Tyner still inspires jazz pianists like Jarrett, in fact, a plethora of pianists today copy the style of these two greats. He has created something, but not memorable compositions albums. He was great with Coltrane. Jamal was a great performer, original improviser but he did not create albums of original songs. Korea certainly an eclectic, skilled and very creative pianist. Other excellent pianists are missing, already mentioned in the comments. Fats Waller, Red Garland, Errol Gardner ... But ten places aren't enough, it's just a game.
I completely agree, the background piece to this video, Ruby My Dear, by Monk, played beautifully by Hank Jones, but not written 'by' Hank Jones, is just one of Monk's many ballads that swing so sweetly on the piano. The piece goes through me every time I sit at the piano, creating then releasing tension in the music, and releasing my tension for the rest of the day.
Tú, sabes.
missing are Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, James P. Johnson and Cecil Taylor. Make it the top 15 and and add these 4. Maybe, off the top of my head, add Horace Silver and you have 15.
Teddy Wilson
@@ALF8892 nice choice
I heard a James P. Johnson song today called Jersey Sweet 1. It was awesome
This list is as good as any, but I'm with you. I'd expand the list or drop a modern player or 2 to inclde, Earl Hines, Jelly Roll or Fats Waller. Tough choices, love them all.
@@swingtmix3543 fats def should be there...he was a giant
If you want to start a fight, make a RUclips video called "The Top 10 Greatest Jazz Pianists of All Time".
Thank You
The only way to solve this is to get em all in the same room, same piano. James P. probably influenced more Jazz Musicians than anyone.
If you did that Tatum would still be the best piano player
Your list is flawed. You are missing Lyle Mays.
Why has Jesus Chucho Valdes been left out? Where is Errol Garner and Earl Hines? What about Wynton Kelly?
Great pianists...You're right!
The list was 10 not 100.
Great question.
Eugen Cicero?
What about George Shearing? 🤔
A great pianist, of course.
Being familiar with the performers and their lifetime repertoire should be mandatory.
No Erroll Garner?
Corea and Hancock above Evans.
Time will tell.
I fully realize the futility of rating "best"...no such animal. Can you imagine how boring or bad music would be if your "best" pianist played every song on every record and that's it? I'm a career player, retired from 47 years on the road...my sole career....never had a day job. My name is of no consequence ..I played stints with Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, and a few others that still live so I won't "name drop" any further. Although my instrument is a guitar, I listen to pianist probably 10 to 1 over guitarists. I've heard 6 out of these 10 pianists live...a few many times.
McCoy Tyner stood head and shoulders as the most overwhelming experience I've come face to face with that relates to music of any kind. His musical presence...his ability to conjure up and engage the organic, spirit of music itself defied words for proper explanation. Once we'd seen him in New Orleans in the 70's on a night that he broke some type of barrier of human emotion and passion I've not witnessed since, but at the peak of one of his solos, whatever it is that humans have sought from music since recorded history literally overtook the room... ..and at once, in unison, over a hundred people broke down and wept...grown men and women, there was no prompt from others, it happened as a crescendo and it looked like some force knocked, or almost crushed the wind from everyone at once, then shuddered and wept... Something I've not seen in over 6000 one-nighters or even heard of again. Two women who came with that evening us didn't even care for jazz, continued to weep as we left and drove home. Music can be a powerful force but very rare that it reaches like that.
Even so, it seems to me Monk has been more important in the big picture of music. Monk is also evidence that as important as theory can be, music, itself.. exists totally separate and apart from it. ....not a chicken or the egg question... ..music had been out there a near eternity before anyone decided to try to quantify and notate.. And Jarrett, Tatum, and Chick, all greats but I can't imagine of the importance of a Bill Evans. Evans is the Dead Sea Scrolls, Merriam-Webster's, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Shroud of Turin of modern jazz piano.
What hapend with Errol Gardner
What about Joe Sample?