Do you have artists you like that play the piano?

I really like Tori Amos. Her music was a big motivation for me to work on my piano skills. Most of the songs from her cd's are with a band and the piano but her live performances are great, and sometimes it's just her and the piano.
For bootlegs and live performances of her:
http://www.hereinmyhead.com/sounds/index.html

I also like the songs from Vanessa Carlton but I find her songs a bit to simple.

I don't know much Tori Amos, but I did leaf through some sheet music of hers. I know I'm just a beginner, but it looked quite complicated.

One of my favorite non-classical artists who plays piano is Deanna Bogart. She's probably not widely known, but she plays piano and saxophone in her band, which I classify as boogie woogie/blues. Her music is so much fun to listen to. http://www.deannabogart.com

Oh plenty of Jazz cats.. As far as "pop" players? Not sure.. Of course there are the guys like Billy Joel and Elton John, but I never got too into them. I kinda dig Norah Jones, she has a sweet sound.

norah jones and billy joel are great! Amy Lee (from Evanescence) plays the piano too. of course, I go more for her voice than her piano playing.

I really like the way Sarah McLachlan uses piano in her music (albeit not extremely complicated stuff).

Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard rule.

Billy Joel, Elton John, and Bruce Hornsby all the way. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Bruce Hornsby. The manager at the store i got my piano from/ took lessons from is very good friends with him. He is one of the best "non-classical" pianists that are out there. His solo in "The Way It Is" was awsome!

vanessa carlton [big fan of hers, for her sheet music isn't too difficult to learn] , david foster, and harry connick jr.

I almost forgot Diana Krall. She's fabulous!

But I still say Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard rule.

rock on girl

Steely Dan is always fun. I like their chord progressions.

Here are some piano artists that I like -

Jessica Williams website

web page Lynne Arriale

Of course there's Joni Mitchell.

A couple of folks have had their first albums out in the past year - Casey Stratton and Charlotte Martin. Both do piano-based stuff, and they're excellent.

My favorite piano players start with Thelonious Monk who was one of my reasons for starting to play piano in the first place. I love what McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock were doing in the mid-sixties. The early guys I like are Earl Hines, Art Tatum and Roosevelt Sykes. For Blues it's Otis Spann forever. Bruce Hornsby has a great feel and Tom Waits knows how to say what needs saying. Gene Harris, who died way too early, was a real inpiration in how he could play any style at all, perfectly and with great impact, and sound like he'd never played other style in his life.
I also love how my wife plays.

Luther

Stevie Wonder.

I am going to love this section. I get to cross-over in piano in a way that I've never been "allowed" to do when I am singing. I don't think there's a single style of piano music I am not able to appreciate on some level. There's somebody I really like playing piano on one of Kirk Whalum's sax CDs...I'll have to find the case and figure out who it is.

I am a 100% dedicated Errol Garner fan. Have seen him 3 or 4 times in concert in England 1960's. His playing I find just so exciting and technically unable to be copied by anyone I've heard, though some have tried. I like any jazz pianist that does not loose either a rhythm or the basic melody of the song or whatever the piece is based on.

As far as current pianists go Diana Krall is one of my favourites as she also keeps with the rhythm and the outline of the melody plus the jazz improvisation and her singing.

I have many others from the pre 'contemporary age' jazz.

Alan

Looked at this thread and immediately thought of Amy Lee and Vanessa Carlton, but I see they both have already been mentioned :p oh well.

Altho Amy lee is and ok player I think if ure looking for a piano virtuoso in the rock world i would definatly recommend u give matt bellamy from muse a listen too. Hes a decent guitarist but my god wat a piano player.
Listen to: Bliss -muse, Space dementia-muse
it rele is great stuff

I enjoy listening to the pianist from Pink Martini (Lauderdale?). He'll segue from classical to Latin/lounge/whatever and finds the most amazing melodies.

Amy lee plays the piano, but i don't think she's clasically-trained. she, like me, probably got the sheet music to her own song and learned to play it, b/c it's a rather easy song to play to be honest.
oh, and did anyone forget to mention Alicia Keys? she's absolutely a genius, and i love her. she, like vanessa, can lay a hurtin' on a piano, but she expands her boundaries more than Carlton, who only plays the piano, and writes weird lyrics.

You know I'm kind of sorry they separated the piano corner into "classical" "non-classical". This question, for instance, where does new age fit in? I guess it fits here - it's not considered classical - so I'd like to offer the following pianist/composers that I like.

These are solo piano CDs (electronic keyboards are NOT used.)

Kostia (the best in my opinion)

David Nevue

Keiko Matsui (She has a terrific solo piano CD called "The Piano". I believe all of her other CDs have electronic keyboards on them.)

John Boswell

Peter Kater (Kater's newest CD "Piano" is up for Grammy award!)

Dave Eggar (Very emotive, introspective kind of music.)

Wayne Gratz

Bradfield

and, of course, everybody knows Jim Brickman

Check out amazon.com to hear samples from these CDs. If anyone has a new "find", I hope you'll post here.

Jeanne W

Oh, almost forgot Jamie Cullum. The new guy from England-plays jazz/pop. Check his "Twenty-Something" Cd out. (It's his best!)

I caught this young player on E! (I think...) a few months ago... I find her interesting to say the least...

http://www.nelliemckay.com

My fav Pop.... Billy Joel, Elton John, Bruce Hornsby (never met him Pianobeast.. but i did get an email from him)

Norah Jones is not exactly pop... saw her live 2 times... great show...

Ben Folds... Amazing on stage

Tori Amos... yes she is very talented... just strange to watch on stage

Sarah Mac... always love to see her play

Diana Krall... would love to see her live

shut me up... but seriously... check out Nellie McKay... I keep watching her schedule to see if she hits any venue near here... She is very young I think... 20?? Very interesting

I keep hearing about Diana Krall. Can anyone recommend a CD?.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve...

My personal Favorite... Live in Paris

Diana Krall is fabulous!

Jeanne W

My personal new favourite artist who plays the piano is Vanessa Carlton. There's only one song by her I don't like, The Wreckage from her new album. But Papa from her new album definetely showcases her piano abilities. I agree that her music is sometimes simple but I really like the harmonies and lyrics.

neciebuggs,

Thanks for the recommendation.

Steve

Steve,
No problem!! Please Post what you think of her when you hear her play... even if it isnt the Live in Paris.

*agrees with Prophetic* i'm sorry, but i don't know anything about most of the painists in this forum except Norah Jones, Elton John, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, David Foster, and Vanessa Carlton.
and i agree. she can rip up a piano. i'm currently listening to 'Papa' on Sessions@AOL. i have her debut. and listen to it often. it has catchy piano riffs. i never get tired of that album.