Some thoughts on Solo Piano recordings
i didn't have any solo piano recordings, so i purchased some from bill evans, oscar peterson and bud powell. i had the odd realization in listening to these recordings that i don't really like what a lot of the greats do with solo piano. these same artists, when playing in a group, get a really good swing and can play relaxed and their music makes you feel happy. i find in the solo recordings that there tends to be a lot of showing off, and they play everything very dense (lots of thick chords and every free space filled with embellishment). the solo recordings never feel relaxed to me. even if the tempo is steady, they tend to not keep a steady bass (either walking, stride or other) and so the music sounds like the tempo is uneven.
does anybody else have this feeling that solo piano recordings lack some of the best aspects of ensemble jazz? does anybody recommend any solo recordings that are more relaxed, and get that steady rhythm you associate with good ensembles?
does anybody else have this feeling that solo piano recordings lack some of the best aspects of ensemble jazz? does anybody recommend any solo recordings that are more relaxed, and get that steady rhythm you associate with good ensembles?
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my teacher once told me that solo piano is one of the most difficult things in the world. with time i got to agree with this term. listening to one instrument playing a whole 5,6,or even 10 -minute long tune may become quite boring. you have to continiously invent new things in order to keep ones interest and yo really have to know what you're doing. i know what you mean. i get the same feeling as well sometimes. for example the bill evans recording you got. personally i don't like any of his solo recordings because of what you're saying. evans, having extensive knowledge of classical music, to me it seems like playing jazz tunes in classical version. he does fill every gap in his playing and i wouldn't say he is swinging that much either (always talking about solo). bud powell comes from the bebop era where the more you play the better. oscar peterson is oscar peterson. here are some recording that i think is what you are looking for:
alan broadbent at maybeck recital hall
monty alexanter at maybeck recital hall
any solo recording by monk
ray bryant: montreux '77
chris
alan broadbent at maybeck recital hall
monty alexanter at maybeck recital hall
any solo recording by monk
ray bryant: montreux '77
chris
perhaps you should listen to the solo pianists who thought of themselves as solo pianists. bill evans hated recording solo and only did so because the studios begged and insistently pressured him to do so. bill evans never claimed to be a solo pianist and had no desire to be one. he is known as the premier trio jazz pianist of all time. he set the standard for the jazz piano trio until keith jarretts ultimate challenge. dave mckenna considers himself to be a solo pianist, almost always did although he has done ensemble work. listen to him.
there are of course many other pianist who have always considered themselves primarily solo pianists but i have to move on now...
there are of course many other pianist who have always considered themselves primarily solo pianists but i have to move on now...
thing is, bud and bill aren't really good solo players. i mean, they are good, but not like some other guys. oscar is a great solo player, but his solo recordings aren't as much fun (at least for me) than his trio stuff.
if you want some good solo stuff, check out the maybeck recital hall series. walter norris did a killer solo piano recording. it still makes my jaw drop. monty alexander did a great one, hank jones, kenny barron, george cables... there's a great older recording by denny zeitlin that is really nice.
walter norris:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006iu/learnjazzpian-20
george cables:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006ns/learnjazzpian-20
denny zeitlin:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006mc/learnjazzpian-20
monty alexander:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006ok/learnjazzpian-20
kenny barron:
https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1006656&style=music&frm=lk_learnjazz
hank jones:
https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1006682&style=music&frm=lk_learnjazz
dick hyman:
https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1006610&style=music&frm=lk_learnjazz
lots of links here, but if you get any of these recordings, you'll be amazed at just what solo piano is all about.
if you want some good solo stuff, check out the maybeck recital hall series. walter norris did a killer solo piano recording. it still makes my jaw drop. monty alexander did a great one, hank jones, kenny barron, george cables... there's a great older recording by denny zeitlin that is really nice.
walter norris:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006iu/learnjazzpian-20
george cables:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006ns/learnjazzpian-20
denny zeitlin:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006mc/learnjazzpian-20
monty alexander:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/b0000006ok/learnjazzpian-20
kenny barron:
https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1006656&style=music&frm=lk_learnjazz
hank jones:
https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1006682&style=music&frm=lk_learnjazz
dick hyman:
https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1006610&style=music&frm=lk_learnjazz
lots of links here, but if you get any of these recordings, you'll be amazed at just what solo piano is all about.
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Use the contact link at the top of the page.
by Scot Ranney on 02/18/2004, 08:54
it's surprising to me that no one mentioned art tatum in a thread about solo piano...to me he is the solo pianist of all solo pianists...you may have to work up to listening to him though...i didn't really like him when i first heard him...i guess it was all too complicated...
i recently had the opportunity to hear a recording of a piano roll that gershwin had cut of his "rhapsody in blue".
that goes on forever. but it's truly amazing!!!
two things became immediately clear when i listened through it:
1. gershwin could hear the entire orchestra in his mind as he was cutting that roll, and
2. he sure sounds a lot like tatum much of the time
that made me wonder, did gershwin listen to a lot of tatum or did tatum listen to a lot of gershwin or was it just "zeitgeist" (ie. that's what "everybody" was into at that point in time).
7
gershwin used to go to after hour clubs and listen to tatum and
fats waller. more waller than tatum. but that is how gershwin learned his jazz stuff. essentially he studied with fats waller in after hour clubs. but the tatum stuff... tatum came first. according to the scriptures: tatum said "let there be virtuosity" and there was virtuosity.
fats waller. more waller than tatum. but that is how gershwin learned his jazz stuff. essentially he studied with fats waller in after hour clubs. but the tatum stuff... tatum came first. according to the scriptures: tatum said "let there be virtuosity" and there was virtuosity.
keith jarrett's- the melody at night, with you probably fits the more relaxed recording youre looking for. beautiful!
teddy wilson, imo, is a great solo player. great taste and use of space , yet still swings.
there is a great recording of autumn leaves by hank jones and tommy flanagan. anyone else like this?
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