Article: Music and Sonic Favorites: Jazz Piano

[audiobomber]

No mention of McCoy Tyner or Herbie Hancock? I don't understand.

 

Tyner's work with the John Coltrane Quartet and Hancock's with the Miles Davis Quintet (1964-68) is enough to land them on any list of greatest pianists, IMO. Their solo recordings are icing on the cake. e.g. 

McCoy Tyner - The Real McCoy, Reaching Fourth, Tyner Plays Ellington 

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage, Empyrean Isles, The New Standards

[audiobomber]

4 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I believe this is a list of favorites, not necessarily greats.

OK, I get it. Judging from the last article and this one, I think I like jazz with a little harder edge than @JoeWhip.

 

I'm sure there are some recs I will love here, so I will have a listen. Aren't internet streaming services wonderful? 

[audiobomber]

30 minutes ago, JoeWhip said:

Audio bomber, it is OK to like jazz with a harder edge. I have been fortunate enough to have met Messrs Tyner and Hancock, two great guys and phenomenal musicians who belong on any lists of greats. They are just a bit further down my list of favs than yours. I will address them on the next one. After male jazz vocalists. Now that one should be interesting!

I will definitely tune in, though I suspect you're a Mel Torme fan. 😉

 

Johnny Hartman, greatest jazz crooner ever. 

[audiobomber]

4 minutes ago, JoeWhip said:

his vocalizing, shall I say, can be a bit distracting.

First rank pianist for sure but I'm with you on the vocalizing. I can't stand it when the engineer deliberately mikes Jarret's off-key grunting and moaning. I've noticed other pianists with the same affliction (e.g. Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner), but Keith Jarrett is in a class by himself.

[audiobomber]

This is all so subjective. I know Art Tatum is considered a jazz piano great, sometimes even the greatest, but I do not care for his style. The melody gets lost in all the flourishes and trills; too much virtuosity, not enough musicality.

 

I do like Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell a lot. They manage to add character and style without going overboard, IMHO.