LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Some listening suggestions please?

johnmarkpainter -- 11/19/2006, 15:44:22 -- #31305

First...Jazz purists please be kind to me :) I am a rock musician that has always dabbled in Jazz.  I am a multi-instrumentalist/Film Composer/Arranger/artist/engineer etc...  I'm a hack keyboard player and am working on that. As a Piano reference, I have worked a lot with Ben Folds.   One of my Favorite records is Ramsey Lewis Trio "Down To Earth" (check it out on iTunes if you think you don't like Ramsey Lewis) Especially "Come Back To Sorrento" and "John Henry"    I also like Lalo Schifrin's 60's Bossa Nova stuff (really campy) like on "Insensatez" which is also on iTunes. ANYWAY   My Piano aspirations aren't ultra-technical. I just want to be able to play with some 'flow' and be more competent on Piano to help me with my composition. Any recommendations for Pianists to listen to in that direction? I like the simplicity and R&B leanings of the above-mentioned Ramsey Lewis and Ray Charles "Hard Times" for instance. I love this website and have already found tons of great information here. Thanks, John

johnmarkpainter -- 11/19/2006, 21:52:12 -- #31305

Just to add.....I hope to land somewhere between Leon Russell and Oscar Peterson

Barry -- 11/20/2006, 17:30:41 -- #31305

Horace Silver plays with a nice use of space and doesn't attempt to be overly technical.  Nat 'King' Cole was a wonderfully tasteful pianist and was one of Oscar's biggest influences. Hampton Hawes and Victor Feldman aren't as well know as some of their contemporaries but I think you may enjoy listening to them.

johnmarkpainter -- 11/20/2006, 21:20:43 -- #31305

Barry, I have only heard his version of "Opus de Funk" on a Blue Note compilation I had.  That is the kind of swing that I really like.  Thanks for reminding me about that. I remember Victor Feldman from a Cannonball Adderly record. Thanks, John

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