Top 10 Greatest Keyboardists/Pianists

[62' Jazzmaster]

Post 10 (or more) pianists/keyboardists who you consider to be the greatest, most accomplished, or just your personal favorites.

Here is mine. (With pics bc im bored)

1. Lyle Mays Best known for his work with Pat Metheny, this guy is a straight freak. 'Virtuoso' just doesn't seem to do him enough justice. I believe this guy can actually think faster than the jazz he is playing.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8208/lyle86mu9.jpg

2. Thelonius Monk
http://www.jazz.com/assets/2008/1/12/Thelonious_Monk_at_Salle_Pleyel_1954_Marcel_Fleiss _Small_AG.jpg

3. Keith Emerson
http://www.mindskyband.com/Images/bnr_keithemerson.jpg

4. Eliane Elias Awesome Bossa Nova and Latin Jazz musician. Probably the most tasteful and classy pianist alive today.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh161/bigalist/cover-front-1.jpg

5. Joe Zawinul
http://www.joederenzo.com/images/zawinul01.jpg

6. Page McConnell
http://billboard.blogs.com/mobile_beat/images/2007/07/12/gershunyhighsieraphisher.jpg

7. Bill Evans
http://www.thejazzman.com.au/Page/images/pic-gallery-bill-evans.jpg

8. Hiromi Uehara (Thanks, FS) Ive listened to a couple of her records over the past week, and for someone so young she really impresses me. Her music could best be described as 'eclectic progressive jazz rock'. She has a really good guitarist in her band also.
http://blog-imgs-17-origin.fc2.com/o/h/i/ohisa3/Hiromis_Sonicbloom_2007-02-20_07.jpg

9. John Medeski
http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/miruko1/imgs/d/4/d4fa6f0b.jpg

10. Ray Manzarek
http://z.about.com/d/classicrock/1/0/9/H/05-29njwf.jpg


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[Raycing]

Thanks! I'm gonna check em out and see if I dig any of em, cause right now its just a list of ten people that I've never heard of. Lol

[Hitman!]

Chick Corea all the ******* way!
John Medeski
Jean St-Jacques
Telonious Monk
Tony MacAlpine

ok, it's a top 5...

[62' Jazzmaster]

Chick Corea all the ******* way!


Oh, man, how did I forgot him? I must be losing my mind. Return To Forever is possibly the greatest band to have ever played together.

[Plain G]

Agree with Bill Evans and Monk also Otis Spann, Jon Cleary, Ray Charles, Elton John, Jimmy Smith, Allen Toussaint (sp?), Billy Preston and Rick Wright

Piano jazz is very listenable, I dig a lot of those folks too but don't know names

[Eclectifish]

Great names here. Personally, I love Emerson and Corea. I'll add Rick Wakeman and Bruce Hornsby. I really think that Hornsby is one of if not the best currently playing pianists.

[lufc71]

Tony Banks
Jon Lord
Jerry Lee Lewis
Fats Domino
Jackson Browne
Doctor John
Jordan Rudess
Keith Emerson
Rick Wakeman
Brian Eno

[Tdanger]

Well i know very little as far as the most talented/skilled pianists out there, but my personal favorites have always been Jim Steinman and Richard Wright.

[Hitman!]

How can we forget Stevie Wonder??? What a freakin' shame. Shame on us all!

[Vortexan]

Just adding to the list.....

Billy Joel
Paul McCartney
Oscar Peterson
Count Basie
Dave Brubeck
Floyd Cramer
Harry Connick Jr.
Herbie Hancock
Jerry Lee Lewis
Benmont Tench

[62' Jazzmaster]

How can we forget Stevie Wonder??? What a freakin' shame. Shame on us all!

I think it's because he is known for his superior songwriting and melody skills that many overlook his wonderful accomplishment on his instrument.

[crank]

One of my favorites has not been mentioned yet. Chuck Lavaelle played with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, his own band, The Rolling Stones. He has a very fluid style and, to my ears, plays just the right feel for each song he contributes to.

[zappatude]

Nat 'King' Cole.

[zappatude]

Nat Freakin' King Cole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf55piLGFOo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4wrjiJ3Q4M&feature=related

[Squizz]

I gotta go with Wright also.

[zappatude]

Jimmy Smith would be in my top ten also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJsE9fo9pT0&feature=related

[gusmanchu]

Great names here. Personally, I love Emerson and Corea. I'll add Rick Wakeman and Bruce Hornsby. I really think that Hornsby is one of if not the best currently playing pianists.Second Wakeman and go for Rudess as well.

[genereaux]

Wow. Can't believe Jon Lord didn't get mentioned til the 7th post.

I would add Ben Folds

[shiggity]

Jimmy Smith
Neal Evans
Brubeck
Stevie Wonder
John Medeski
McConnell
Hancock
Adam MacDougall

[BKent]

No Love for Billy Preston?

http://www.photofeatures.com/billypreston/images/thumbs/p17007a.jpg

[Hitman!]

^ BIlly Preston was the shyte!

[lufc71]

Another one of my favourites is Norah Jones. :)

Might not be the best of all time, but gotta be in contention as the horniest of all time! ;)

[Hitman!]

Another one of my favourites is Norah Jones. :)

Might not be the best of all time, but gotta be in contention as the horniest of all time! ;)

LOL

Don't forget Diana Krall. Though she can REALLY play!

[shiggity]

Jonah Smith. not too many people know of him but dude has a awesome style to him and one hell of a voice. Great Muck Fusic!

[shiggity]

oh and Kofi Burbridge

[shredd]

I'll put in votes for Elton John, Rick Wakeman, Rick Wright, Gregg Rollie (Santana & Journey), Billy Joel, Tony Banks (Genesis).
There's a number of great players from the 40's-60's era, but I can't remember which ones are the ones that blow me away.