Piano World Home Page Forums General Discussions Musicians Welcome! Can anyone recommend a good Jazz CD

I would like to get hold of a really good jazz piano CD, but dont know where to start....any recommendations?

Mmm ... what are you looking for? Just solo piano or piano with other instruments? I like Keith Jarrett - "The melody at night, with you".
Also any of the trio recordings by Brad Mehldau are really good. Herbie Han**** and Chich Corea are also great. There's so much out there...

KN

Hmmm, I dont know really .... I wonder if there are any good compilation CD's so I can get a broad taste of many artists?

Piano jazz artists Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea are fabulous, but can be a bit unaccessible to those who haven't developed a "jazz ear," so to speak. The jazz genre is broad and deep, so I agree that you probably want to get a compilation of some sort to sample some of the different styles and flavors and artists of jazz. I'm passionate about jazz myself but maybe too close to it to advise you about good introductory material at the moment. I'll look at my collection at home and see it I can come up with some suggestions.

Hi again Karen,

You might start by browsing a record company web site that specializes in jazz, such as Verve

http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/verve/default.asp

There should be some compilation discs there.

Try listening to some samples from the site and see what appeals to you.

If you're interested in jazz piano, you may recognize names like Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi (best known for his Charlie Brown TV cartoon soundtrack work), Marion McPartland. These pianists are generally enjoyable to listen to even for those folks who aren't into jazz.

Enjoy!

Add Art Tatum and Billy Taylor to your list of listening. Also, the master of understatement, Thelonious Monk... Essential!

Dave

Agree that Thelonious Monk is essential, but I suggest tackling him after warming up to jazz a bit.

Karen -

All the suggestions have been good, but I would single out Bill Evans for someone just entering this world. He is the epitome of style, sophistication, swing and soul. He himself owes a lot to Teddy Wilson, another giant that you must listen to.

Beyond that, everyone loves Oscar Peterson, and if you want someone a bit different, meditative, try Ahmad Jamal. Amazing pianist. Of course Herbie Hancock is a consummate master, and along with McCoy Tyner particpated in some of the greatest jazz groups to walk the face of the earth!

If you think you'd be into something a little more off the beaten path, check out Paul Bley.

If you like it *really* intense, listen to Cecil Taylor! :-)

Maybe after Thelonious Monk.

...really good jazz piano CD - Karen

I think she is after the actual name of a CD.

As Ed and Ken mentioned, Oscar Peterson is extremely gifted and prodigious with dozens of CDs to choose from.

For someone new to purchasing Jazz CDs, you might enjoy Oscar Peterson's "We Get Requests" with the late Ray Brown(b) in top form. This CD is not too "far out" and definitively shows what Jazz piano standards are all about.

Hi, All:

Jazzyd: Thelonious Monk is a master of understatement? Now, I've loved the man since I was a child, and "Mysterioso" was the first jazz album I bought for myself, instead of pirating my parents' collection. I am having a hard time getting "stride" and "subtle" into the same sentence, when it comes to Monk. Wildly innovative, brooding, playful, and prodigious fit more easily, at least for me. But I'm always up for some educating on why others are hearing what I am not. Would you say more about what you mean by understatement?

And, Ken: It's good that you offer something of a qualification in your suggestion of Cecil Taylor. A friend of mine from college teases me that when he tried to introduce me to Cecil Taylor, that I ran from the house screaming. I have no recollection of this, but that doesn't mean that it didn't happen! In any event, Cecil might be a hard go, especially the first time around.

One contempary pianist, not as widely known, but innovative and lyrical, is Fred Hersch. One of his recordings that I especially like is "PassionFlower," a compilation of Billy Strayhorne tunes. Another is the gorgeously evocative interpretation of classic Bill Evans pieces: "Evanessence."