View Full Version : 88 Keys, please
If a tinkling ivory is your thing, here's where to sing....Sorry, so there's a lot of guitar speak on this forum, but for me, the timbre from the attack of a piano note does it for me. Some favourites include, in no particular order (and this is music which features a lot of piano, or a synthesised piano sound):
1. Tori Amos (fave)
2. Elton (of course....)
3. Bruce Hornsby
4. Iva Davies (and his work with the ground breaking Fairlight synthesiser - Aussie spelling!)
5. Joe Jackson (just beacuse)
6. Vince Guaraldi Trio (go Schroeder)
That'll do for now......
snarlydwarf
2007-01-16, 09:02
the Keiths: Jarrett and Emerson.
If a tinkling ivory is your thing, here's where to sing....Sorry, so there's a lot of guitar speak on this forum, but for me, the timbre from the attack of a piano note does it for me. Some favourites include, in no particular order (and this is music which features a lot of piano, or a synthesised piano sound):
1. Tori Amos (fave)
2. Elton (of course....)
3. Bruce Hornsby
4. Iva Davies (and his work with the ground breaking Fairlight synthesiser - Aussie spelling!)
5. Joe Jackson (just beacuse)
6. Vince Guaraldi Trio (go Schroeder)
That'll do for now......
What, no Donald Fagen ?
Or is it because we look at Steely Dan as a whole, not a guitarist and a keyboard player with a band...
Bill Evans
Glen Gould
Rubenstein
Horowitz
Ashkenazy
Porovec
Alicia de la Rocha
What, no Donald Fagen ?
Or is it because we look at Steely Dan as a whole, not a guitarist and a keyboard player with a band...
Oversight on my part, although, as you suggest, the team outshines the individual efforts - notwithstanding Kamakiriad, Nightfly, Morph the Cat.....OK, he's in, and oh, another omission, Rick Davies from Supertramp....a legend, again maybe overshadowed by the success of he band as a whole....
Oscar Peterson is the most amazing jazz pianist, bar none (just my opinion, obviously!).
If you really want to give your stereo a workout, tho, try some Randy Weston...famous for really playing hard on the lowest octave of the piano...
In more popular genres, I also like Billy Joel and Jools Holland (from Squeeze)
Already posted in the fave guitar bit so i'll mix a bit in here.
Pat Metheny's album "Secret Story" has a great bit of piano and bass in the middle of "Finding and Believing" that just fits so right. For me its crank it up and wait for the rush. Have no idea whose playing as the album's artist list runs to 17 artists, 2 orchestras, a choir and others !
Bill Evans
Glen Gould
Rubenstein
Horowitz
Ashkenazy
Porovec
Alicia de la Rocha
Agree with all of those
I'd add
Andras Schiff
for harpsichord
Ton Koopman
Christophe Rousset
Kenneth Gilbert
for jazz, I'd add
Geri Allen
Fred Hersch
Elmo Hope
Thelonious Monk
Bud Powell
Oscar Peterson
Vijay Iyer
btw - if we're listing non-piano players, I need to mention Jimmy Smith as the ultimate Hammond organ player...
Already posted in the fave guitar bit so i'll mix a bit in here.
Pat Metheny's album "Secret Story" has a great bit of piano and bass in the middle of "Finding and Believing" that just fits so right. For me its crank it up and wait for the rush. Have no idea whose playing as the album's artist list runs to 17 artists, 2 orchestras, a choir and others !
Lyle Mays is the usual pianist for Metheny. When Lyle was a student at UNT his arrangements got the 1 o'clock lab band a Grammy nomination.
Lyle is one of te best jazz pianists around.
Can I suggest Maurice el Médioni who can be found at http://www.piranha.de/records/english/artists/art_medion.htm
and oh, another omission, Rick Davies from Supertramp....a legend, again maybe overshadowed by the success of he band as a whole....
I agree. Are there other we have missed because they are "hiding" in a band?
I agree. Are there other we have missed because they are "hiding" in a band?
Richard Wright, Pink Floyd?
Richard Wright, Pink Floyd?
Here are two more: Tony Banks of Genesis and Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac.
drewe181
2007-01-29, 22:01
Mats Oberg is pretty cool and blind to boot. saw him play last year and he blew me away. he played with frank zappa one time years ago.
Here are two more: Tony Banks of Genesis and Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac.
I think Tony Banks gets some decent recognition (or at least he did back in the 80s). I didn't know Christine McVie was particularly notable as a pianist, tho...
I thnk her honorary doctorate in music from the University of Greenwich, along with her solo album in 1984, which had some success, gives her stead here in the forum. She isn't noted necessarily as an artist on the keyboards, but as a keyboard (more likely synthesiser than piano) player made significant contributions to one of the most noteworthy bands to have ever blessed our ears, IMO. However, do I remember a passage where she captured my imagination? Not necessarily. Maybe that's the point of what Tom was suggesting. We forget these people and the instruments they play simply because they are in the background sometimes.
I thnk her honorary doctorate in music from the University of Greenwich, along with her solo album in 1984, which had some success, gives her stead here in the forum. She isn't noted necessarily as an artist on the keyboards, but as a keyboard (more likely synthesiser than piano) player made significant contributions to one of the most noteworthy bands to have ever blessed our ears, IMO. However, do I remember a passage where she captured my imagination? Not necessarily. Maybe that's the point of what Tom was suggesting. We forget these people and the instruments they play simply because they are in the background sometimes.
You are right there.
Speaking of Christine McVie, she is probably more known for her songwriting than her piano skills. One of her best songs is Songbird from Rumours - it's just her and the piano.
reverber
2007-01-31, 08:56
Art Tatum?
Milcho Leviev is another personal fave. His recordings for MA Recordings sound magnificent.
Cody
mrfantasy
2007-01-31, 15:15
I second the Joe Jackson vote--he's really a brilliant pianist, with some serious composing and performance chops.
Ben Folds also needs to be mentioned here.
Nostromo
2007-02-03, 16:55
Art Tatum
Just bought a CD. Wow! Not sure I like it yet, but one thing is for sure: the man could play the piano.
Just bought a CD. Wow! Not sure I like it yet, but one thing is for sure: the man could play the piano.
Not heard this guy yet, butI am always drawn to piano pieces as those which can evoke more powerful emotions than other instruments. This may be a direct result of personal experience, but there may also be more to it. Is the hammer hitting a string a more pleasing envelope than a strum, a pick, or a draw of a bow? I'm leaving wood wind instruments out of this as the origin of the sound is somewhat different to a taught string...or is it? Maybe someone can shed some light here.
bflatmajor
2007-02-06, 10:18
When I want to hear the 88's, I tend to listen to Bob James and sometimes Keiko Matsui
When I want to hear the 88's, I tend to listen to Bob James and sometimes Keiko Matsui
I'm quite a recent fan of Keiko Matsui. I've looked for an album which would be a great introduction to her style. If you have any suggestions, fire away.
Thanks
bflatmajor
2007-02-07, 08:36
For an introduction to her style then look at some of earlier stuff..
Sapphire, Dream Walk, and Full Moon and the Shrine
If you want a greatest hits cd, try her keiko matsui collection.
If you want to witness a change in style a.k.a growth, try either of her last two cd, walls of akendora or wildflower.
The above are good for introductions.. :-)
We always seem to forget Richard Manuel. His keys always may not have always been in the front but they always have power.
Also speaking of the Band if you ever hear Garth Hudson don't pass it up. He may not be famous for his piano but he definately plays anything with a keyboard.
Phil Leigh
2007-02-20, 12:10
btw - if we're listing non-piano players, I need to mention Jimmy Smith as the ultimate Hammond organ player...
Seconded! (although there are few other rather tasty players - Al Kooper, Emerson, Argent, Jon Lord, Greg Rolie...)
beernutz
2007-02-20, 15:54
Others excellent rock pianists not yet mentioned (I think):
Rick Wakeman (Yes), Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Al Kooper (Blood Sweat & Tears), Bill Payne (Little Feat), Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones), Leon Russell
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