Stevecham
Agree on Martha Argerich- How could I have forgotten to mention her? She is so very good with so much music, but she really rises to the top as a pianist for chamber music. |
|
manny perahia and marc hamelin.i have many cd's of each of them,and not one a dud. |
Anyone heard any recent releases from Keith Emerson? Any good?
I have not kept up with him since his ELP days. |
Surprised nobody mentioned Mike Garson. ( David Bowie) Garson is my personal favorite and runner up is Keith Emerson. |
Hank Jones, wonderfully fluid & lyrical pianist from the great Pontiac Michigan musical family, including Thad & Elvin...all gone sadly. |
Martha Argerich - especially her Prokofiev and Rachmaninov recordings Lyle Mays - solo and with Pat Metheny group Nicky Hopkins - with so many, too many to count, Stones, Who... Rabbit - on Pete Townshend's solo albums Elton John Stephen Kovacevich - on the 5 Beethoven piano concertos Serge Rachmaninov Chris Stainton - on Tommy and Quadrophenia Roy Bittan |
Hi Newbee,
It is nice that you join the forum.
As I am impotent in deciphering Chopins notes so I cant comment on Ivan Moravec. The only Chopin recording I have is Adam Harasiewiczs performance. Sadly this winner of the 1955 International Chopin Piano Competition is now long forgotten and overshadowed by the 2nd place winner (Vladimir Ashkenazy). Even the 3rd place winner (Fou Tsong) has his followers in Asia nowadays.
Speaking of Chopin, do we have any update on Pollini? Would this multi-talented pianist ever finish the recording of Bachs well-tempered clavier book II or any other new recording(s)?
Happ Listening.
Otto |
Next to last generation should include Ivan Moravec. An outstanding if under recorded and publicized player of classical music. His Chopin is some of the finest available.
Hard to really recommend the last generation due to a lack of breadth of their programs without mentioning the music in which they have shown great potential, for example Chiu in Prokofiev, Lewis in Beethoven, Bavouzet in Debussy (and Ravel), Lortie in Ravel (and who is building a credible discograph as well). The list seems to go on but I will not. :-) |
My mindless mistake left Arrau uncovered. Yes, Photon46 is right. Arraus achievement in balancing virtuosity, introspective and philosophical pianism of his unlimited repertoire is purely unbelievable.
Every time my 12-year-old daughter is puzzled by various interpretations of the pieces she is learning, my suggestion to her is always referring to Arraus reading first.
Helplessly I can not speak of Arrau without mentioning The Lion of Keyboard Wilhelm Backhaus. The pianist even defeated Bartok in one prestigious piano competition in 1905. The piano playing of Backhaus and Arrau always reminds me objective interpretation. Another thing I admire Backhaus is that he was exempted from the attack of Steinway piano. He prefers the pianos from Bosendorfer or Bechstein. By listening to the simple warm-up notes of his last recital on Bechstein piano, you would be amazed by the rounded and majestic tone released from his finger tips. Another example validates Furtwanglers remark on music performance - Tone always comes first; before anything else tempo, rhythm, phrasing and interpretation.
New generation pianists Paul Lewis, Till Fellner, Hélène Grimaud and Liref Ove Andsnes are showing us the promising future of classical piano performance. Lets keep our ears open.
Happy Listening.
Otto |
I used to be very much into Keith Jarrett, still a fan of his, but recently discovered and fell in love with Masabumi Kikuchi. |
Richter's Schubert Brendel's Beethoven Schiff, Perhia, Gould for Bach- can't pick just one Ohlssohn - Chopin
Also generally like Kissin (also some very good Schubert, but totally different than Richter), Fellner, Lewis. |
I always thought Claudio Arrau stuck a fine balance between virtuosity and introspective/philosophical pianism. I agree with most of what Yu11375 said, although I've rather liked Brendel's playing myself. I quite like Andras Schiff's playing as well, another example of great balance IMO. |
Evgeny Kissin playing Chopin. magic, poetry. |
Ingrid Haebler. Although she is not the greatest pianists but she is definitely my favorite one.
Most pianists either demonstrate their super human skills (Horowitz & Brendel), philosophical readings (Schnabel & Kempff) or witty personal interpretations (Gould & Gulda). Some pianists even exercise overpoweringly showy tone in recordings and performances to prove their capabilities (contemporary Lang Lang and his prior generation counterpart, Richter).
Not Haebler! Limited recordings available to us indicate her subtle and sensible touch on keyboard. She leads you to the most inner core of music in such a neutral way that you just glide with the flow of music. No weight burden, nor compass direction. Free from any conscious activities of mankind. Thats the very point I admire her. Great music should come to you not the other way around. By this perspective, Haeblers achievement is unsurpassable.
Only aged Serkin in Beethovens last 3 piano sonatas provides us a glimpse sense of such liberty. |
Nicky Hopkins...check his playing on Jerry Garcia Band's "let it rock". amazing. |
Vladimir Horowitz is my favorite musician.Byron Janis is excellent also for classical.Both play Rachmaninoff to my liking.I never cared for Van Cliburn playing Chopin. |
Holy thread resurrection, Mapman !!!!! |
Billy joel was awesome on tonights sandy fundraiser. |
For Jazz I really like so many artists it is hard to single out a top few but they would have to include
Earl Hines Erroll Garner Oscar Peterson Dave Brubeck Bill Evans Bud Powell Herbie Hancock
Technically the best of the lot has to be Art Tatum. I doubt there has been or ever will be anyone that matches his combination of virtuosity and improvisational skills, twinkle fingers! What a delight to hear him at his best.
And as for women of this genre check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bhebd9Wbkk&feature=related |
Gould, and a trio of ECM artists: K Jarrett, Bobo Stenson, and Marcin Wasilewski |
|
Les Dawson; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F19zGHoWpL0&NR=1
Chico & Harpo Marx; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XsWI9EEric
Hinge or Bracket http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHUO2RrQd4Y
Victor Borge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Z2mrpqtRo
Rowan Atkinson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd0UAdpBNUg&feature=related
......................but seriously folks, a few of many and in addition to those already mentioned,
Tori Amos, Ivo Pogorelich, Jools Holland, John Ogdon. |
Just look at the photo of Diana Krall at the top of the music section, that's a pianist. I wouldn't even care if she brought her piano. |
The giants such as Richter, Gould, Monk, Jarrett et al. were mentioned, I believe, a few others that are worthy of (much) attention: classical: Alice Sarah Ott (breathtaking Liszt), Andreas Staier (Schumann as it was meant to be), Markus Schirmer, Evgeni Koroliov and, yep I do think so, Katia & Marielle Labèque (very fine Satie performance) jazz: Red Garland, Esbjörn Svensson (such a great loss...), Marc Copland, Jürgen Friedrich, Kris Defoort and I don't think I saw McCoy Tyner before... rock, broadly speaking: Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Mike Ratledge |
A few more jazz favorites:
Count Basie Tommy Flanagan Geri Allen Benny Green Ariel Pocock -- local high school talent Bobby Timmons Roberto Fonseca Chano Dominguez Bebo Valdes Chucho Valdes Aruan Ortiz Arturo O'Farrill |
For Chopin especially, Rubinstein |
Classical: Richter, Horowitz, Kissin |
Actually Keith Jarrett was mentioned with Bill Evans near the top. He's one of my favs so I looked for his name first. Not bad company those two pianists could keep, although I doubt Bill would put up with Keiths crap! :) |
First let me add Keith Jarett to the list, and second I would like to add Chick Corea. As other have stated, I can't believe we have gotten this far into the thread without mention of them.
I just picked up a DVD copy of Miles Electric which includes a live performance recorded the Isle of Wright festival 40 years ago to the day that features Miles and both Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea, as well as Jack DeJohnette (Jack is one of my personal favorite Jazz artist, typically a drummer but he has also played piano on some of his recordings). Sorry for digressing off topic... |
Gene Harris, I second that emotion! What I'd give to possess his talent. I don't think there's ever been a player who projected more soul and feel good music than Funky Gene! RIP Mr. Harris... |
For the life of me, I don't understand why Fred Hersch is seldom, if ever, mentioned in the same light as the above artists. So I'm doing it; Ha! |
Classical - Glenn Gould Jazz - Bill Evans Rock - ?...I'll have to think a bit more about that. |
There may be a couple of other favorite pianist lists in another thread or two... Obviously Monk changed things a lot and was great. There's probably not anyone as earth shaking currently active, (maybe because now there's less new ground available to shake)... a few more good ones you might find in a jazz section:
Vijay Iyer Don Preston Paul Plimley Cecil Taylor Myra Melford Matthew Shipp Simon Nabatov Achim Kaufmann Horace Tapscott Michiel Borstlap Sophia Domancich Jean Michel Pilc Francois Bourassa Sylvie Courvoisier |
In addition to the great ones mentioned about, Eddie Higgins has some great recordings on the Venus Label. SACD and LP's available.
If you're into vinyl, the Bill Evans 45 lp box set is fantastic |
Wow, amazing that that was the first mention of Herbie Hancock!
How about some props for Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner as well? |
Till Fellner -- great Bach. |
Jazz,Thelonius Monk without question and a tip of the hat to Horace Silver and Herbie Hancock. |
As one who grew up listening to Marian McPartland every Saturday night on my local NPR station, I have to say that she is a wonder and a blessing to America's jazz culture. She will always be the greatest in my book for this alone. |
Excellent recs so far. Thanks for the great response to this thread. Keep on adding to the list! |
Additionally: Gene Harris... always gets my toes-a-tappin |
|
Gods own Pianist; Art Tatum I didn't realize God had his own pianist,amazing!!!! |
Gods own Pianist; Art Tatum |
Lynne Arriale plays beautiful, but not smooth, jazz in a trio. She really should be much better known. "Nuance" and "Long Road Home" are probably her LESS accessible albums. |
When it comes to Classical piano, for me it's Ashkenazy, period. But another guy I've really enjoyed lately is John Bayless--if you've never heard his music, check it out. |
Sgunther, how about the soundtrack to "Mike's Murder" by Joe Jackson. |
As a change of pace how about Joe Jackson (Night & Day) and Chuck Lavell |
Horace Silver, Thelonius Monk, Hank Jones, Dave Brubeck, Bobby Timmons, Bill Evans; "Did I leave anybody out? The Jazz pianists are all mine". |
My favorite jazz pianist today: Bill Charlap My favorite 60's jazz pianist: Bill Evans My favorite classical pianist: Murray Perahia (great solo works abound)
Have fun. |