Twenty Piano Men (and Women)

All About Jazz: Red Garland was known for his eloquent middle-of-the-road style. A fertile, often moving improvisor, he developed a characteristic block chord sound by combining octaves with a fifth in the middle in the right hand over left-hand comp (accompanying) chords. The style has been much imitated.

Sky Jazz : One of my favorites for about 27 years has been a 1974 Atlantic release, “Solo Piano,” by Phineas Newborn Jr., for the simple reason that he swings in the way that all the great jazz pianists swing — intuitively. Some of my friends out there on the Internet won’t have heard of Newborn, but others are nodding knowingly to be reminded of an old friend they haven’t thought about in a long time.

Hard Bop : Wynton Kelly was a greatly underrated talent, who was both an elegant piano soloist with a rhythmically infectious solo style in which he combined boppish lines with a great feeling for the blues as well as a particularly accomplished accompanist, gifted with perfect pitch and a highly individual block chording style.

Jaki Byard : It was also around this time that he performed with Charles Mingus as part of an ensemble that featured among its players many fabulous musicians: Eric Dolphy, Jack De Johnette, Johnny Coles and Bobby Jones, who toured Europe and made some great sounds and history.

JazzDiscography.com : In 1961, while touring with the Byrd-Adams group, Duke Pearson became ill. Filling in for him for the engagement was a young Herbie Hancock, who became his permanent replacement. Following the death of Ike Quebec, Pearson took his place as A & R man for Blue Note Records.

Lennie Tristano.com : Tristano was stricken permanently blind as an infant. He first studied music with his mother, an avocational pianist and opera singer. From 1928-38, he attended a school for the blind in Chicago, where he learned music theory and developed proficiency on several wind instruments.

Solid! : Response to Thornhill’s progressive jazz orchestra was tremendous from serious jazz fans. At times the group’s six clarinets would all play in unison, the horns would sound long tones with almost no vibrato, and Thornhill’s tinkling piano would alternate between beauty and humor.

Kendor Music : In 1952 Toshiko formed her own group. A year later during a tour of Japan, pianist Oscar Peterson heard her play and recommended her to Norman Granz, who gave her the chance to make her first recordings with such jazz greats as Herb Ellis and Ray Brown. Not long after, Toshiko accepted a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

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