Seven Jazz Piano Great Pianists – Part One Of Three
Seven Jazz Piano Great Pianists – Part One
Featuring: Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, and Herbie Hancock
Jazz and piano are two words that just seem to go together — like salt and pepper. Jazz is an idiom, a style of music. The piano, of course, is an instrument. But, it is a flexible instrument, capable of being its own orchestra, or in the case of jazz, its own jazz combo.
In the history of jazz, many musicians have turned to the piano as their preferred means of expression. As a result, some of the best jazz music ever written and played has been on the piano.
Here then, is an accounting of seven of the best jazz piano greats, along with reasons why you should get to know them and their music — if you don’t already.
Fats Waller (b. May 21, 1904, d. Dec. 15, 1943)
It would be fair to say that Jelly Roll Morton, who preceded Waller, was more of a trailblazer, but that would be at the expense of Fats Waller’s popularity and genius.
Early jazz piano was marked by the development of the Harlem stride piano school. While James P. Johnson is known as the father of the style, and the afore-mentioned Morton played an important role, Waller perfected the style and made it popular.
A musical prodigy, of sorts, Waller played the organ at the age of six in his father’s church. In an all-too familiar story, Waller became enamored with jazz music, his father objected, and Waller, torn as he was between classical music and jazz, chose the latter. Much to the benefit of the world of jazz music.
Fats Waller was a professional performer at the age of 15, with an animated style, and exceptional vocal ability. He certainly deserves a spot on anyone’s list of jazz piano greats.
Suggested Recording: A Handful of Keys available from Amazon on Audio CD.
Art Tatum (b. Oct. 13, 1909, d. Nov. 5, 1956)
Born in Toledo, Ohio, and almost completely blind, Art Tatum is well-known for his virtuoso technique. He had perfect pitch and, like Waller, was a child prodigy, with the ability to play simple songs at the age of three.
Tatum’s parents were musical and, given his sight impairment, his attraction to sound is no surprise. His talent was. As a young adult, Tatum “cleaned up the floor” in a Harlem “piano cutting contest” with the likes of Fats Waller and the legendary Willie Smith.
If there is one unique feature to Tatum’s style that has lasted it is the fact that his swing-type of rhythm eventually led the way to the development of what we now call bebop.
Suggested Recording: Piano Starts Here available from Amazon on audio CD.
This article will be continued on the next post.
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