Tunerout got me thinking of something that could be an interesting topic for the ABF. Tunerout's pianist inspiration is Frank Cramer. It would be interesting to share who our favorite pianist is. We could get some new leads on some piano inspiration. I would love to play piano like Joe Sample who is a solo performer, pianist for the Crusaders, and backs up many wonderful jazz vocalists. I love the emotion and joy expressed in his playing.

George Winston!! Because he is both a composer and a pianist and creates music of aching beauty. And his playing shows great artistry. And because he is so cool he released an album of solo piano covers of songs by The Doors.

Ludovici Einaudi and David Nevue would also be in my top five.

In no particular order: Lyle Mays, Russell Ferrante, Jonathan Cain, David Lanz, George Winston, Tom Coster....

Evgenia Rubinova

Winston is definitely at the top of my list for releasing the Doors album. How cool is that? I am actually kind of back and forth about liking the Doors, but Winston playing their music is just amazing.... Every time someone new comes over to my house I make them listen to that cd.

My original inspiration, though, is Billy Joel. (I know, it is generic and an uninteresting choice) In my defense you can't just pick someone to inspire you, it just happens.

Also on my list in no particular order: Elton John, Thelonious Monk, Tori Amos, Victor Borge, Beethoven.

Yeah, some odd stuff in that list.

I'm a rock-n-roller so if we said keyboardists, I would say Rick Wakeman.

Pianist would have to be my teacher, she must be just about the best sight reader ever. She never ceases to impress me. Its the most amazing talent I have ever seen.

Classical Pianists: Yundi Li, Valentina Lisitsa, Sviatoslav Richter

Non-classical: Ludovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen, Michael Nyman.

for current pianists in concert scence, i really like Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Rudu Lupu, who always produce extremely great tone quality when they play.

for pianist who's not in concert scence, my teacher of course!

Ah, yes- you brought one more to mind- Keith Emerson.

Mr. super-hunky

Humm,in classical... probably Van Cliburn but there are others. Lang Lang, Ivo Pogorelic, Gyweneth Chen...

Boy, am I out of touch! I never heard of most of the current generation pianists.

I'm still in the age of: George Shearing, Count Bassie and Ray Charles (for non-classical). Are these men all dead?

For classical: Artur Rubinstein (I know he's dead), Horowitz (also deceased), and Vladimir Ashkenazy (alive and wel, I hope).

And for the "what the heck is that" category: I have to go with the Killer...Jerry Lee Lewis! (I don't know if he's living or dead, and I don't think he knows either.)

Saw him in person once and WOW he can play that piano however destroys it in the process. I guess that's why they call him the Killer.

Art Tatum, even Rachmaninov thought he was phenomenal.

I like the 5 browns. If you haven't heard of them, they are a family of 5 that all play together. They are really good. I also like Lang Lang.


Debussy 20

Monk

Oscar Peterson around 1977. Classically trained and went on to be one of the very few magnificent jazz players.

Alan

Mike White


"White army! oooh...White army!"

Is Mike White one of the White Stripes?

No, ya know?... our Mike White!

come to think of it though?...w_scott can play like Errol Garner easily

So he may yet take over from Mike White

classical = J.S. Bach
modern = Ernesto Cortazar and David Lanz

I must admit I don't realy know! :rolleyes: My musical tastes have changed and keep evolving...

The only pianist who has always ranked among my favourites since I first heard him is Erroll Garner. Keith Jarrett would be next...

I mostly listen to the likes of Mike White, Seaside Lee, Balladeer these days...

I'm with geek in the pink...Art Tatum, George Shearing, Adam Makowicz.
Horowitz was also a fan of Tatum.

Chico Marx, Martha Argerich

pianoga

There is therapy available...

check her out.
Valentina Lisitsa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWQx678Kku0

More seriously

At the moment...I'm listening to Ludovico Einaudi, Erroll Garner, Gene Harris, Marilyn McPartland, Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum and a guy called Larry Petty plays in Nordstroms in Dallas...I bought a couple of his CDs when I was in the states last summer

Can't say I really have an all-time favourite I just love listening to piano players and pianer music


regards


Lee

Erroll Garner (who Seaside_Lee just mentioned) is a favorite of mine as well. beautiful jazz music, and I believe he can't read a note of it either. Notch one up for the play-by-ear crowd...

Classical: Dubravka Tomsic

Jazz: Chick Corea

Rock: Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson

Good call!

Lots more of her videos at http://www.valentinalisitsa.com/valhome.html

i dont have a favorite pianist, but what got me interested in playing was the salesmen at the store in the mall when i was a kid. from the moment i heard the piano i wanted to learn. then as i got older my friend played and i would make her play the rose for me All the time. she played beautifully even when she was annoyed:) i never did start playing as i thought i could never learn. then i got my first piano for free so i decided to give it a whirl i had nothing to lose but space.....well one thing led to another and not to long after i bought my piano and passed my first one along to the next newcomer:)so i guess my favorite pianist would have to be the sound of the piano:) and whoever could make music on it i admire and admired!!! so i guess all of you:)